Kumasi, Aug 29, GNA - The Ministry of Health (MOH) has presented an ambulance valued at 60,000 dollars to the Tafo Hospital in Kumasi to help facilitate referrals and promote efficient health care delivery. Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning and Member of Parliament for Tafo, who presented the ambulance to the hospital on Sunday, expressed the hope that it would help to improve facilities at the hospital.
He said the MOH under the supplementary budget for this year, has also earmarked two billion cedis for the upgrading of infrastructure overheads in the hospital for the maternity block under construction. Dr Akoto Osei said as MP for the area it was his objective to ensure the development of the constituency, adding that he had personally made two different donations which included drugs, surgical equipment, wheel chairs and beds to the hospital at the cost of 250 million cedis last year and early this year.
He said the ambulance was provided through lobbying and negotiations with the MOH and hoped that it would enhance good health care in the constituency.
The Deputy Minister appealed to the hospital authorities to make good use of it.
Dr Joseph Oduro, Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Health Services, who received the keys to the ambulance, thanked the MOH and the MP for the gift and appealed to individuals, organisations and churches to emulate them.
Dr KOfi Asare, Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, expressed concern about lack of facilities at Tafo, Suntreso, Manhyia and Kumasi South Hospitals and said the situation was putting much pressure on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). He urged the government to improve facilities in those hospitals to ease congestion at the KATH.