Accra, July 13, GNA - Nii Armah Ashietey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, on Tuesday, inaugurated the merged Out Patients' Department of Ridge Hospital with Adabraka Polyclinic (APC) to ensure efficient health care delivery. He explained that the merger was to ease congestion at Ridge Hospital and maximise the use of APC which had been under-utilised. Nii Ashietey advised clients to visit APC first for their OPD and other health care services where they would be referred to the Ridge Hospital.

He commended the transitional team and stakeholders who worked towards the implementation and affirmed commitment as Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey towards ideas and projects that sought to improve the living standards of the people. "I hope other health centres in the Region with similar challenges would emulate the laudable initiative," he said.

Nii Ashietey said government would continue to concentrate on improving health initiatives by targeting resources in all areas, strengthening, equipping and upgrading selected accident and emergency centres throughout the country.

He said government was deepening the concept of Primary Health Care by focusing more on Community-Based Health Planning Services (CHPS) concept, which is very close to the client and ensure strengthening of the referral system.

Nii Ashietey noted that government responded immediately to the water needs of Ridge Hospital by providing a bore-hole, adding if the system worked well the facility would be replicated at Adabraka Polyclinic which also has similar problem. He gave the assurance that plans were advanced to provide more security and street lights to both health facilities, construct car parks and renovate their waiting rooms.

Nii Ashietey urged the nurses and staff to work in harmony and selflessly, to ensure delivery of quality health care service. Professor Irene Agyepong, Greater Accra Regional Director of Health Services, said the merger was long overdue as the OPD facility at Ridge Hospital had been overstretched in the past. She appealed to stakeholders to support the construction of a bore-hole at the polyclinic to help ease its acute water problem.