Accra, Feb 20, GNA- Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Health on Friday said the Ministry of Health has selected 22 Health Centres in some districts to be upgraded to full-fledged District Hospitals nationwide. The districts are Amasaman, Konongo-Odumasi, Juaso, Manso Nkwanta, Agona, Kuntenase, Goaso, Daboase, Agona Nkwanta, Besease, Kade and Atimpoku.

The rest are Denu, Jasikan, Kadjebi, Kpando, Gambaga, Tolon, Savelugu Zabzugu, Saboba and Nadowli.

Dr. Afriyie said this in Parliament when he answering a question by the NDC Member of Parliament for Ga South, Mr Ernest Attuquaye Armah, if there were plans by the Ministry of Health to upgrade certain health centres to district hospitals nationwide and if so when would the ministry would come out with the list.

He said the criteria to be used for the upgrading include demography, staff availability, and referral cases.

He stressed that there are also plans to upgrade Bimbilla, Gushegu, Nkwanta, New Edubiase, Juabeso and Dodowa district health centres into district hospitals.

"Also with financial support from the HIPC proceeds the new facilities in Abirem, Twifo Praso and Ashanti Effiduase are being upgraded to district hospitals", he added.

The Minister in an answer to a question on the improvement of the Tuna health centre in the Bole District said efforts was being made by the Northern Regional Health Directorate to provide financial support for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the centre.

He said to ensure that basic healthcare services were made available to the people living within the catchment area of the Tuna health centre, the Tuna sub-district has been divided into two and that another health facility was being provided at Jindaboo to improve coverage in the area.

To another question as to what measures the ministry is putting in place to ensure the completion of the Maternity Ward of the Agona Swedru Hospital, Dr Afriyie said, the project was completed and temporarily handed over to the hospital authorities in September 2003.

He however, said patients are yet to be moved in because major rehabilitation of electrical installation works are ongoing and the hospital is yet to receive full complement of equipment such as beds, bedside lockers and trolleys to facilitate its full use.