Health News of Wednesday, 11 July 2007

Source: GNA

United States Doctors for Africa eyes Ghana

Accra, July 11, GNA- United States Doctors for Africa (USFDA), a non-profit organisation, focusing on HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases in Africa on Wednesday announced plans to introduce its services in Ghana.

The spotlight of the organisation is the deployment of medical professionals, who operate in mobile health clinics supported by medical testing and examining facilities among other services, to reach out to communities, which have no access to health services. USFDA attracts some 3,000 medical personnel who are working mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Mr. John Dwamena, Executive Chairman of the USFDA, who led a four-member delegation of the organisation to call on Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, conferred on him, the Patron of the project in Ghana.

Mr. Anthony Severini, Chief Financial Officer of the organisation said they were carrying out feasibility studies at Begoro in the Eastern Region to start the project in Ghana.

Mr. Severini later told the Ghana News Agency that the mobile clinic, which is composed of a truck and trailer, would be introduced during the last quarter of the year.

He said the pilot phase would span six and nine months. The services would spread to the Northern Region before it covers the rest of the country.

Mr. Lec Sorensen, Director of Strategic Development, said USFDA would partner local stakeholders to create advisory boards. Vice President Mahama accepted his appointment and said he would use his new position to make meaningful contribution to health delivery and also combat any bureaucratic impediments that would come on the way of the organisation.

He said health was key to economic growth and lauded USFDA for its effort to boost the fruits of the National Health Insurance Scheme and promote assess to medical facilities to accelerate the Millennium Development Goals.