MOH present Ambulances to two institutions

Accra, Nov.7, GNA - The Minister of Health Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd) on Tuesday said the blind adoption of foreign eating habits and other lifestyles had increased the number of diseases and medical emergencies being treated in the country.

He said the normal Out Patient Department methods of accessing Health service delivery could not effectively address these conditions.

The Minister, speaking at a handing over ceremony of three ambulances to the Ghana Armed Forces and the Saint John Ambulance in Accra, said, "The period between the time of accident and the time the casualty reaches the facility and receive medical attention is very crucial and that determines to a large extent, the survival of the patient", he said.

The presentation, he said, was a clear testimony of the Ministry's support in cementing inter sectoral collaboration and partnership and added that health problems were multifaceted and could only be solved by a strong partnership and collaboration by all stakeholders in the sector.

He said the ministry had therefore not only adopted inter sectoral collaboration as one of its pillars in pursuing objectives but had shown commitment by getting involved in the design and implementation of programmes and activities towards the realization of set goals. Major Quashigah said it was in the light of the desire to fill in the gap in the medical health delivery system that government took a bold initiative to introduce the National Ambulance Service (NAS) in the year 2003.

The NAS, charged to provide prompt pre hospital care to victims of accident are operating at 19 stations in five regions in the country and is expected to expand to 25 stations and later to cover the entire ten regions in the country.

=93The presentation of the ambulances is therefore a step in the right direction and it is my hope that it would go a long way not only to strengthen the relationship=94, he said.

He called for the training of first responders and said "no matter how efficient and effective our preventive measures are accidents... actions and inactions of people who arrive at accidents scenes go to a large extent to determine the outcome of case. I would therefore reiterate my call for the training of first responders in every community".

He said it was his vision to train at least ten people in every community, work place among others and added that he had ordered that all drivers of the ministry be trained in basic first Aid and life saving skills.

Mrs. Hilda Commey, Executive Secretary, St John Ambulance, on behalf of the recipients thanked the ministry for the gesture and pledged their support and readiness to train first responders to offer first aid in emergencies cases. 7 Nov. 06