Ghana, Netherlands to improve knowledge of health personnel

Ghana and Netherlands have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at improving surgical training and care for healthcare professionals in the country.

The move according to Dr. Gloria Quansah Asare, Deputy Director General of Ghana Health Service forms part of measures to reduce the deficit in surgical skills and training of health professionals by way of promoting healthcare delivery in Ghana.

She explained that under the MOU, which binds the Ghana Health Service and its counterpart Incision Netherlands, signed in Accra on August 5, 2016, will enable healthcare experts in the country to enroll on Incision Academy, an online electronic platform uniquely designed by Incision Netherlands to build their capacity and skills on the job in the fields of surgical operation, medicals and others.

Dr. Koku Awoonor, Director of Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PPMED) of GHS addressing the press at a short ceremony prior to the signing of the MOU lauded the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands for the initiative to see Ghana grow in health through the use of technology.

He noted the technology is capable of empowering doctors to access the right information at the comfort of their hospitals especially in the regions under worst situations where only one doctor is available to treat more than hundred patients at a time.

Touching on the benefits of the platform, Incision Netherlands Local Correspondent & Clinical Comment Lead Project Manager, Dr. Elvis Kuma Forson described the E learning platform as a big innovative tool that would build capacity of surgeons even in the remotest areas of Ghana.

“Without any shred of doubt, I can confidently say that with the offering of the online step-by-step guides at the level of individual surgical procedures coupled with the enhanced 3 dimensions video technology features, the system is guaranteed to favour every health expert to derive its full benefits,” he stressed.

For his part, Senior Secretary of the Dutch Embassy, Ger J. Steenbergen commended Ghana for being the first country in Africa to implement the Incision Academy technology.

“I congratulate you on the vision and the entrepreneurial spirit. As an Embassy, we are extremely proud and happy that the first World Technology will be introduced in Ghana and Ghana is ready to take it up and show the rest of the continent how it’s done”.