Regional capitals to benefit from ambulance stations

Accra, Nov. 14, GNA - All regional capitals are to have ambulance stations by the end of next year as government also plans to procure more ambulances to initiate an expansion process to the district capitals.

Dr. Gladys Ashietey, Deputy Minister of Health, said the National Ambulance Service (NAS) has moved into full-scale operations during 2006, having graduated from the pilot phase, which covered 2004 and 2005.

The Minister was responding to a question in Parliament on when the Karaga District Health Centre in the Karaga Constituency would be provided with an ambulance to cater for the communities surrounding the district capital.

Dr. Ashietey said demand for ambulance services have grown rapidly among the public and other health institution and there was now "an aggressive community demand for the establishment of NAS stations all over the country.''

"In the specific case of Karaga, the district would be considered during this expansion phase which would cover a three-year period. In response to another question, the Minister said construction works on the Nsawora-Edumafua Health Centre in the Western Region have been suspended because during the course of construction, the scope of works had to be reviewed to make the project more responsive to the growing demands of the community.

She said this resulted in an increase in the cost of the project from the original figure of over two billion to over four billion cedis. She said the Ministry had made provision in its 2008 budget for the completion of the project.

Later, Dr. Kwame Ampofo, NDC-South Dayi, asked the Minister for Fisheries, Mrs. Gladys Asmah, when the landing facility for Dzemeni in the Volta Region would be constructed as promised in the 2006 budget. The Minister said the ministry was collaborating with the Ministry of Harbours and Railways to construct modern landing facilities, which could be used by both traders and fishermen in the area. She said currently, Messrs DHV of Holland, which was commissioned to survey, conduct feasibility studies and design the project, had submitted its report together with drawings and the cost of constructing the facilities.

"Funding arrangements have proceeded satisfactorily and are far advanced. It is envisaged that after the completion of the funding arrangements, the project will be started, possibly by the beginning of the second quarter of next year.