Accra, Nov. 9, GNA - A 14.7 billion -cedi- equipment to efficiently diagnose all heart and blood disorders was on Tuesday inaugurated at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

The equipment, "Biplane Angiogram," which would also help the hospital train cardiac surgeons from the sub-region was donated to the hospital by the United States government through the Adventist Development and Relief Agency-Ghana (ADRA).

Dr. Kweku Afriyie, Minister of Health said cardiovascular disease was becoming a major health problem in the country as it was assuming the number one position in death and premature illness and that, "Many are those who are waiting for an opportunity to be treated once this Angiogram machine becomes operational.

"More than 400 people from some other African countries will benefit from the service of this machine", he said.

The Health Minister said cardiovascular risk factors were largely influenced by lifestyle choices, which could be changed, asking, "why do we allow ourselves to suffer and put our lives and health in jeopardy?" Dr. Afriyie said the government considered health care delivery as a key component and was making efforts to make preventive health service accessible to all.

The National Health Insurance Scheme, he said, was on course and recent revenues have amounted to 280 billion cedis.

Mrs. Mary Carlin Yates, United States Ambassador to Ghana, said the donation of the Biplane Angiogram was perhaps the biggest donation of medical equipment that America had made through ADRA to Ghana. She said, "I am told this medical apparatus is the first of its kind in West Africa Sub-region. It is simple to operate, advance in technology and can diagnose a full range of disorders, including abnormal vessel blockage on other parts of the body".

The United States Ambassador urged the management of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to implement a maintenance schedule for the machine to ensure its long life span to continue to service the people. Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, Chief Executive Officer at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and President of the Ghana Heart Foundation expressed his gratitude to the US government saying, "The machine would substantially help the medical team at the centre to effectively diagnose all heart related disorders".

Mr Samuel Asante-Mensah, Country Director of ADRA said the donation was another form of assistance for providing quality health care for people in the country.