Apam (C/R), Sept. 6, GNA - Nine health facilities in the country have benefited from a 10 million dollar humanitarian programme initiated by the General Electric (GE) Company of the United States of America. The programme dubbed GE Africa Product Donation, was to support health delivery systems in some African hospitals and clinics. Beneficiaries of the first phase of the programme were the Komfo Anokye and Korle-Bu Teaching hospitals, the Asesewa Hospital in the Eastern Region and Kintampo District Hospital in Brong-Ahafo. Apam Catholic Hospital in the Central Region, Axim District Hospital in the Western Region, Kete-Krachi District Hospital in the Volta Region, Asante-Mampong District Hospital in Ashanti and Bole District Hospital in the Northern Region were the beneficiaries of the second phase.

The programme, which was as initiated in November, 2003, was scheduled to end by the close of this year. Medical equipment and supplies with back-up critical infrastructure such as power, water and communication channels were provided. Under the programme, Apam Catholic Hospital built by the Cape Coast Archdiocese of the Catholic Church in 1958 was provided with incubators, Ultrasound, Computers Phototherapy machines, mobile X-ray machine monitors, baby warmers and others.

The hospital was also provided with a 150 KVA generator, a water system and Internet connectivity.

A high powered delegation from America led by Joe Hogan, Senior Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Health Care, who inspected the project at Apam on Monday was convinced that it would make an impact on health delivery in Ghana. Mr Hogan noted that the partnership of his organization and that of the Ghana Health Service would improve health care delivery in the country.

Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, Director-General of Ghana Health Service, on whose request the project came to Ghana urged nurses to change their attitude to work. "With this new equipment being installed at the Hospital, I do not see why Apam Hospital should let any patient down", he stated. Very Reverend James Robert Meyrs, Vicar General of the Cape Coast Archdiocese of the Catholic Church, who stood in for His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, expressed gratitude to the donors for giving a new phase to the Hospital, which had been in distress for some time now. Miss Patricia Antwi, Gomoa District Director of Health Service appealed to donor partners to help improve health delivery in the District.