Pregnant women in Brong Ahafo will no longer travel longer distances to be able to have access to Doppler, a medical equipment that determines the heartbeat of unborn babies.

Alhaj Dr Mohammed Bin Ibrahim, Brong Ahafo Regional Director of Health Services announced at the commissioning of a 50-billion cedis maternity and theatre equipment donated by the government of Japan through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at Bofourkrom in Sunyani District.

The equipment are to be distributed to five district hospitals and 16 health centres in the region.

Alhaj Dr Ibrahim described the Doppler, as 'unique' equipment, which is provided only at Komfo Anokye and Korle Bu Teaching hospitals in Kumasi and Accra respectively.

Its installation at all health centres in Brong Ahafo region is, therefore, a big relief to pregnant women, he said.

Ultimately, he added, maternal and infant deaths are going to be reduced in the country and when the history is written about the great feat, posterity shall find printed in gold the contribution of the government of Japan, JICA and all the agencies involved in the project.

The equipment included surgical instruments such as surgical diathermy, CS set, delivery sets and dilators.

Others were life saving equipment and resuscitating kits, vacuum extractor, delivery and operating beds.

Alhaj Dr Ibrahim noted that the equipment had facilitated delivery of antenatal care, supervision in delivery, post natal care saying, "The services have become more accessible, affordable and less cumbersome".

He assured the government and people of Japan that the equipment "shall definitely assist the Ghana Health service to achieve the desired purpose".

Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Health in a speech read for him, re-affirmed the Government's commitment to the provision of quality health in rural communities.

He said the provision of quality health in rural communities remained the government's priority in order to bridge the equality gap between rural people and those in the cities.

Dr Afriyie said the government was very concerned with the health of the rural people who produce the bulk of the country's food needs and their good health would definitely enhance their activities.

He commended the donors noting that Japan had since 1997 assisted Ghana in the area of in-service training of health personnel.

Dr Afriyie noted that lack of equipment in the various hospitals was "driving health personnel from the country to work abroad" and said the items provided would help in many ways to retain them to render services to the nation.

He recalled JICA's promise of 22.7 billion cedis for procurement of microscope and other inputs for the treatment of tuberculosis, technical support for reproduction health programmes in Upper East Region, motor-bikes and bicycles for health personnel and construction of modern training centres to be located at Abokobi near Accra.

Mrs Kazuko Asai, the Japanese Ambassador, said the equipment was presented for the provision of effective and efficient health services to the people of Ghana.

She said the gesture would be extended to other regions very soon and entreated the beneficiaries to make good use of the equipment to ensure better health services.

The Ambassador expressed the hope that the bilateral relationship between Ghana and Japan would be sustained for increased assistance.