Dr Ahmed Alhassan Yakubu, the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, has supported the Mion District Health Centre, with two tricycle ambulances and some motorbikes valued at GH¢ 50,000 to help transport pregnant women to the health centre for safe delivery.

The initiative is part of measures by the Deputy Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Mion Constituency, to help reduce infant and maternal mortality in the area.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony at Sang, capital of the newly-created Mion District, Dr Yakubu said seeking the interest and welfare of the constituents was his topmost priority, and that he would continue to lend support where necessary.

He said infant and maternal mortality continued to be on the ascendancy in the Northern Region, hence the need to procure the tricycle ambulances and three new motorbikes, and repair two additional bikes, to help improve the situation.

“I thought of acquiring an ambulance for the health centre and since the funds available cannot purchase one, I decided to buy the tricycle ambulances, which can travel to remote areas of the constituency to bring pregnant women for delivery”, he said.

Dr Yakubu said aside the motorbikes, he had also done a lot for the constituency, including investing in plastic chairs, which had been allocated to various sectors within the district.

He said he had also presented some assorted number of agriculture inputs, such as herbicides, wellington boots and fertilizer for women and youth farmers in the constituency, to improve their farming activities.

He said the NDC’s “Better Ghana Agenda” was about caring for people and addressing their needs, and that he would do everything possible within his power to ensure that government policies were implemented.

Mr Nassan Sulemana, the Acting Mion District Director of Health, commended the MP for the enormous support to the health centre, and gave the assurance that the machines would be put to good use.

He expressed the hope that it would end maternal and infant mortalities, and appealed for more assistance, especially in the provision of potable water and other incentives that would attract nurses and doctors to the district.