Samuel Ackon
Assin Donkokrom (C/R), Sept 04, GNA-The Ministry of Health has handed over a fully furnished health post at Assin Donkokrom in the Assin North District of the Central Region under the government’s Free Primary Healthcare initiative.
The handing-over ceremony followed an inspection of the facility by a team from the Ministry of Health.
The facility comprised of a dispensary, waiting area, storeroom, detention room and consulting room.
It is fully equipped with essential medical equipment, including baby incubators, radiant warmers and oxygen concentrators to help resuscitate newborns after delivery.
Other equipment included X-ray machines, vital-sign monitors for checking blood pressure, temperature and other vital signs, glucometers for measuring blood sugar levels and screening for diabetes, patient monitors, infusion devices, laboratory analysers, delivery beds, hospital beds and an ultrasound machine.
Speaking on behalf of Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health at the ceremony, Mr George Boadu, the Director in Charge of Biomedical Engineering at the Ministry, said the Free Primary Healthcare initiative was aimed at ensuring that every citizen had access to essential healthcare services without paying at primary-level facilities.
He explained that the initiative would also focus on disease prevention, health education and regular health screening, rather than waiting until illnesses became advanced before treatment.
It would help reduce the financial burden associated with out-of-pocket medical expenses, particularly for low-income and rural families.
Meanwhile, Mr Sylvester Amakye-Nyarkoh, the District Chief Executive for Assin North, said the facility was expected to serve several communities, including Yaw-Sarmang, Besedurase, Awiafitaam, Fante, Ahyirensu, Tettehsuo, Adukrom and Donkokrom.
He described the initiative as a testament to President John Dramani Mahama’s vision and foresight in transforming the country’s healthcare sector.
The DCE therefore appealed to residents to support the health personnel who would be posted to the facility to ensure its smooth operation and enable it to achieve the intended purpose.
Nana Acquiros Odam Marnah I, the Chief of the community, praised the government for establishing the facility.
He said the health post would reduce the risk and inconvenience associated with travelling long distances to access healthcare services in other parts of the district and the region.
He, however, appealed to the government to provide accommodation for health personnel of the facility.
He said the community was prepared to support the accommodation project by providing land and communal labour for the construction.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Benjamin Mensah