The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has presented 26 Nissan NP and 300 motor cycles to the Ministry of Health to assist healthcare delivery in rural areas.
At a handing over ceremony yesterday in Accra, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Tsutomu Himeno, explained that the vehicles were part of the 200 million Japanese Yen grants to provide the ministry with logistics.
“The 200 million Japanese Yen is being used to procure 26 pickups, 4 SUVs, 300 motor cycles and 1,000 bicycles,” he stated.
In addition, about 1,500 home visit kits would be distributed to community health officers to deliver health service to households,” he said.
Mr Himeno said it was the pride of JICA to see a better world where access to basic social services are not limited to rich and privileged.
“For this reason, JICA collaborated with the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service to expand access to basic health services to deprived regions.
“Our collaborative effort has also been geared towards the achievement of Universal Health Coverage,” he said.
Mr Himeno said a portion of the fund has also been reserved as a contribution to monitor Community Health-based Planning Services (CHPS) compounds activities by the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service.
“In the areas of community, JICA has actively supported the government with more than 70 CHPS compounds in the Upper West Region, supported implementation of CHPS policy through technical assistance in Upper West and now in the three northern regions.
It is our expectation that this support would complement the existing technical support, CHPS for Life and bring some meaningful impact in the health indicators at the primary levels, especially in the three northern regions,” he said.
The Minister for Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu expressed gratitude to the people of Japan for the immense support to Ghana’s healthcare system and assured that the vehicles would be used for its purpose.
He noted that government was working very hard to achieve a Universal Health Coverage that would provide quality of opportunities for people to enjoy an attainable level of healthcare.
BY BERNARD BENGHAN
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