By Linda Naa Deide Aryeetey, GNA
Accra, Nov. 24, GNA – The Global Fund and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) on Monday handed over 486 motorcycles to the Ghana Health Service to enhance community-level healthcare delivery under its Sub-District Strengthening Initiative.
The donation forms part of a broader package of more than 20,000 medical and non-medical items being procured to strengthen the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) system across 10 regions.
The motorcycles, which come with protective gear and health screening tools such as blood pressure monitors, malaria, Tuberculosis, and HIV test kits, will be distributed to CHPS zones in Greater Accra, Ashanti, Bono, Volta and Oti regions.
They are expected to improve transportation for Community Health Officers, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Linda Agbesi, the Acting Head of UNOPS in Ghana, said the handover represented a milestone to improve primary healthcare delivery in the country.
She said UNOPS was proud to support the SDSI, which builds on the foundation of the CHPS model to expand essential services to underserved communities.
“This initiative contributes to Ghana’s broader commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal three ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all,” she said.
Mrs Agbesi said UNOPS remained committed to supporting the full life-cycle of the equipment provided and to ensure the items reached beneficiary facilities.
Dr Caroline Amissah, the Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, said the provision of motorcycles would significantly enhance transportation at the lower levels of care.
“These motorbikes will ensure prompt access to healthcare irrespective of a patient’s geographical location, they will support home visits, outreach services and effective defaulter tracing,” she said.
She noted that improving mobility for frontline health workers was essential to strengthening preventive healthcare and sustaining gains in maternal, child, and community health.
Dr Robert Amesiya, the Greater Accra Regional Director of Health, lauded the initiative, describing transport support as “key to attaining primary healthcare in Ghana.”
“We are happy to receive these motorbikes because they will contribute greatly to improving community engagement and service delivery,” he said, assuring donors that the motorcycles would be well maintained and put to good use.
The SDSI, financed by the Global Fund and implemented with technical and procurement support from UNOPS, aims to address gaps in equipment, logistics and service delivery at the sub-district level.
The initiative also includes the procurement of cold chain equipment, hospital furniture, diagnostic tools, contamination prevention supplies, and home-visit kits for CHPS facilities nationwide.
The support is expected to significantly strengthen community health systems and accelerate Ghana’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe