NGOs in Health solicits for PPP policy

The Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health on Tuesday called on Government to implement the Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy to support the replenishment of the country’s medical stores.

It also called on the Executive to consider a national comprehensive insurance policy and implementation plan for all state assets.

At a news conference, Mr Gabriel Gbiel Bernakuu, National Chairman of the Coalition, said health care is one of the basic human rights recognised globally and access to health care has become one of the basic measures of the well-being of the people.

He said preliminary assessment made of factors surrounding the possible cause and the failure of preventive actions that could have averted the disaster, it indicated that the facility had no fire certificate and for that matter poor fire safety protection mechanisms.

Mr Bernakuu said the fire had the potential of triggering shortages in life-saving drugs and other supplies for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, sexual transmitted diseases and other life threatening ailments.

He noted that if the situation if not restored quickly, the country would experience an escalation in the prices of medicines and medical supplies, which could also pave way for fake drug manufacturers and peddlers to cash in by offering cheaper alternatives which could adversely affect efforts aimed at managing or treating the sick.

The National Chairman said this would also put poor people’s life in danger and the issue of accessing health service in government health facilities would be greatly affected.

He said the Coalition recommends the interdiction of the management in-charge of the facility and allow a fair and proper investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

There should also be an independent forensic fire audit into the cause and take remedial actions to avert future occurrences.

“We also want the audit committee to be independent to ensure the credibility of the outcome and that persons found culpable should be severely sanction to serve as a deterrent to others.”

Mr Bernakuu said the coalition wants government to resource Ghana National Fire Service, National Disaster Management Organisation, Electricity Company of Ghana and civil society organisations (CSOs) to educate the public on fire outbreaks and develop and implement a comprehensive emergency procurement plan.

The recommendation also asked government to consider CSOs when constituting governing boards to manage national assets think about national comprehensive insurance policy and implementation plan for all state assets and ensure that the central medical store has component of fire service centre.

The Coalition of NGOs in Health is a national umbrella of organisations which currently has more than 400 community based organisations, faith based organisations and CSOs in the 10 regions.

Its mission is to provide public health and safety interventions across the country through evidence based advocacy, empowerment of members, innovative programming, organisational development services and social behaviour change.