JICA and PPAG Support 15 Communities with 2.6 Billion Cedis

Noyem(E/R), Dec.21, GNA- The Japanese International Co-operation Agency(JICA) and the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana(PPAG) have since 1998 contributed 2.6 billion cedis towards the improvement of health status of 15 communities in the Birim north District in the Eastern Region.

The project under the Health improvement Project (RHIP) executed in

phases from 1998 to 2000 and 2003 to 2006, aimed among others at increasing the knowledge of people especially the youth in sexual issues with emphasis on Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV/AIDS, Family Planning and nutrition.

Mr Francis Yankey, Executive Director of the PPAG disclosed this at the handing over of a 123 million cedi Primary Health Care Centre at Noyem and a 58 million cedis nurses Quarters at Nkwateng in the Birim North District on Wednesday. He said the project involved the training of Community- based Services Agents to carry out Family Planning, HIV/AIDS education programmes, Training of Traditional Birth Attendants, Health Education programmes in school and others.

Mr Yankey said to ensure the success of the project, the District Health Directorate. And the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) were incorporated into the project as stakeholders. He mentioned some of the beneficiary Communities of the project as Noyem, Nkwateng, Abokyikrom. Amoa, Abohema, Adadekrom, Praso Kuma and Mamanso. The Executive Director also said as part of the project, the PPAG and JICA funded the construction of a Community Clinic at Kwateng in 2001 to improve the health status of the beneficiary Communities.

Mr Hiroshi Murakami, JICA Resident Representative in Ghana said the project had improved Family Planning accept acceptors from 19 per cent to 34 per cent, child deliveries from two per cent to 52.6 per cent and also improved the nutritional status of children. Dr.George Amofa, Director of public health of the Ghana health Service in a speech read for him said it was the objective of the government to bring health service to the door steps of people to improve health delivery in the country. He commended the immense contribution of the two bodies towards the success of the project and asked the beneficiary communities to take advantage of the facilities to ensure their sustainability.

Dr. Ebenezer Appiah-Dankyirah, Eastern Regional Director of Health Service described the project as among the best executed projects in the region. He appealed to the Steering Committee to oversee the projects to ensure that the existing health facilities were fully utilised to improve health delivery in the district.

Nana Acquah Firempong, the District Chief Executive appealed to the people to take advantage of the National Health Insurance Scheme and register with the scheme. The occasion was also used to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the PPAG and JICA and the various stakeholders including the Birim North District Assembly, MOFA, the District Education Service, and the District Health Directorate to ensure the continuity of the project.