Sunyani (B/A), Sept. 29, GNA - The Brong-Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) on behalf of the government on Thursday presented ambulances to seven districts in the Region. The districts are Tain, Asunafo North, Kintampo North, Sene, Berekum and Dormaa and the Techiman municipality. Presenting the ambulances, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Regional Minister, explained that the gesture was in accordance with the Ghana Health Service Ambulance system, which was aimed at improving the accident and emergency response and further increasing access to health care.
He emphasised that ensuring good health of the populace was a shared responsibility, which required the effective collaboration of all stakeholders, from the household level, through the community to higher levels, "to make the dream a reality for us and generations to come". Mr Baffour-Awuah said it was the avowed aim of the government to provide each municipal and district hospital with an ambulance suitable to its terrain.
He urged the beneficiary assemblies and health insurance schemes to effectively collaborate with the municipal and district hospitals to run the ambulance service for the benefit of the people. Receiving the ambulances on behalf of the beneficiary hospitals, Alhaji Dr Bin Ibrahim Mohammed, Regional Director of Health Service, explained that in preparation for the running of the ambulance system, the service had offered defensive training for all the drivers who would use them.
He emphasised that the ambulances were not meant to convey corpses but rather sick people, victims of road traffic accidents and transfer of patients from one medical facility to the other, among others. Dr Mohammed cautioned the beneficiary hospitals against using the ambulances to generate internal revenue and urged them to maintain them well to ensure their longevity.
Mr Kwabena Kyere Yeboah, Berekum District Chief Executive (DCE), on behalf of his colleague DCEs commended the government for its concern for the health sector and gave the assurance that the ambulances would be used for the intended purposes.