Accra, May 2, GNA - Mr Ernest Teye-Topey, Country Programme Officer, Institute of Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), on Tuesday presented bicycles and communication equipment to the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

The items included speed bikes worth 23.58 million cedis; Very High Frequency (VHF) FM Portable Transceivers; VHF base station equipment and desk microphones worth 11,784 dollars. Others were bicycle ambulances and donkey carts worth 3.6 million cedis.

Mr Teye-Topey said the presentation was a result of recommendations of a comprehensive research carried out on health facilities in Saboba and Savelugu Districts of the Northern Region.

The communication equipment would facilitate interaction between health posts while health workers would use the bikes for their rounds within the communities.

"This is a pilot project on increasing access to health care and the appropriate role of in-service provision in Sub-Saharan Africa." He said ITDP had for some time distributed over 300 high quality bicycles to an array of health care organizations to help them to appreciate the importance of bicycles in health care delivery. Mr Teye-Topey added that bicycles were important solutions to increase access to health care mainly through mobilizing nurses and volunteers.

He said the Institute worked globally to promote sustainable and affordable transportation solutions within cities that lacked adequate transportation alternatives to other more costly and environmentally damaging options.

"Our programme, Access Africa, seeks to improve transportation choices and quality in Ghana by focusing on mass transit, bicycle and walking."

Professor Agyeman Badu Akosah, Director of GHS, who received the items, said the items were needed in the health sector. He appealed to other institutions and development partners to assist the health sector.