Japanese Ambassador Opens New Hospital ward At Ajumako

Ajumako (Central Region) --Her Excellency, Mrs. Kazuko Asia, Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, has opened a recovery ward, named after a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV), Miss Toshiko Kariyama, at Ajumako in the Central Region.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Japanese ambassador said the people of Japan are pleased to contribute to the benefit of a deprived community and urged the district health directorate and assembly to maintain the ward.

She noted that the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer who worked in the district was so hard working that her picture had been used on the ?2,000 stamp to commemorate the 25th anniversary celebration of the JOCV activities in Ghana.

In a welcome address, the District Chief Executive, Mr. Kenneth Obimpong, was thankful to the Japanese government for the provision of four ?118 million for the structure and praised the contractors for a good work done.

He hoped that the linkage between the two bodies would be strengthened and extended to other areas such as education and rehabilitation of the oil palm processing factory.

The representative of the regional director of health services, Dr. Odoom, said the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam district is the only district without a medical officer, adding that with the structures put in place now, the region will soon post an officer to the district.

He said the region has drawn up a comprehensive plan which would allow for consultants to organize outreach clinics regularly in all the districts of the region, which, he noted, would not only increase geographical accessibility but would also reduce the inconveniences of patients travelling to unfamiliar places for specialized services.

He pledged the support of the Regional Health Directorate to the district in its efforts to make health service financially accessible to the people.

He urged health workers to be efficient and use the resources effectively to benefit their clients.

The Toshiko Kariyama Recovery Ward was constructed with funding from the Japanese grassroots project assistance.

The construction started in May, 2000 and ended in October, this year. It consists of hospital beds side lockers and bed tables.

The district director of health services, Mr. Wilberforce Adade, who realized the district needed to have adequate wards for emergencies, initiated the project.