Support students desirous of studying medicine - Adongo

The Upper East Deputy Regional Minister, Mr. Frank Fuseini Adongo, has urged the assemblies to give support to students who are desirous to study medicine.

They should however make sure that bond forms for sponsorship of such students were properly signed so as to retain them in the area after their training.

That, he said, was the way forward to get more medical doctors in the region and improve the quality of healthcare.

Mr. Adongo was speaking at the annual performance review meeting of the regional health directorate in Bolgatanga.

The two day meeting was held under the theme “Building sustainable partnerships for strengthening health systems to achieve universal health coverage”.

It brought together health professionals from all 13 districts, officials from the Health Ministry, Municipal and District Chief Executives, religious and traditional leaders.

Mr. Adongo, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Zebilla, expressed concern about the absence of specialist doctors at the regional hospital and said that was troubling as many referral patients were unable to afford the cost of seeking treatment outside the region.

The Regional Health Director, Dr. Winfred Ofosu, said the region required about 120 doctors but had only 31.

Even with this number, six of them are currently pursuing further studies.

The result is that districts like Pusiga, Binduri, Garu Tempane and Builsa South where there are no hospitals have no doctors serving in those areas.

Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Health Minister, in an address read for him, promised the construction of more community-based health planning and services (CHPS) Compounds.

That, he said, would bring quality healthcare closer to the population and applauded the health workers for the hard work, passion and commitment that was helping to save lives.