Work starts on Accident Centre for Tema Hospital

Tema, Dec. 23, GNA- The Minister of Health, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, on Tuesday cut the sod for work to begin on a 200,000-dollar Accident and Emergency Centre for the Tema General Hospital (TGH). The project, which is being funded by the Korean Government in collaboration with the Government of Ghana, would be completed in six months.

The Minister urged management and staff of the hospital to review guidelines of its Internally Generated Fund (IGF) so that they could access the funds without always waiting for instructions from the authorities.

He, however, advised them to be more rationale in their dealings and make sure funds of the hospital are not misappropriated.

Dr Afriyie said the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) will formarly be launched in January 2004, and urged all Ghanaians to embrace it since it is the only way one can be assured of quality health care. He said under the scheme, the National Health Insurance Council (NHIC) would be set up to co-ordinate the activities of the districts.

As part of efforts to improve on health care delivery in the country the Minister said a National Ambulance Service would begin operating next year with a pilot programme in Ashanti and Greater Accra regions.

Dr Afriyie said under the programme, ambulances would be placed at the various Fire Service stations to always move with the fire tender to give first aid and carry fire victims to the hospital.

He said 10 vehicles equipped with communication facilities have been received to start the project while 50 more have been ordered. The Korean Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Lee Sang-Pal, said the Korean Embassy and the Korean Residents' Association initiated the project two years ago to contribute to the welfare of the residents at Tema. He said after its completion a set of medical equipment worth 100,000 dollars would be delivered by the Korean government. In a welcoming address, Dr Charity Brako, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, said by June 7, this year, 208 accident cases were recorded by the Hospital as against 8,275 recorded in 2002.