Accra, Jan. 23, GNA - Japan on Wednesday gave four ambulances and medical equipment worth 1.4 million Ghana Cedis to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in Accra to be sent to hospitals in the Upper West region as its contribution to improve the health of Ghanaians. The equipment, which included four Ultrasound machines, two anaesthetic machines and radio communication equipment are to be installed in six hospitals, 58 health centres and one community health training school in Jirapa.

Mr Yutaka Nakamura, Counsellor, Deputy Head of Missions of the Japan Embassy in presenting the items said primary health care was very urgent and called for the capacity of the regional and district hospitals to be strengthened to support such activities. The handing over was the outcome of a grant aid agreement signed in November 2006 preceded by a feasibility study conducted in May 2005.

He noted that though Ghana had improved the economic growth, which had resulted in poverty reduction, there were still disparities in some regions with the three northern regions accounting for low health indicators.

Mr Nakamura said a technical cooperation project for community health planning in the Upper West region was being implemented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and reiterated the continuous support to help Ghana improve the health status of the people. Dr. Gladys Ashitey, Deputy Minister of Health commended the Japan government for their assistance and said the equipment would help the country achieve the numbers four and five of the Millennium Development Goals which aimed at reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.

"The gesture is an important landmark in fulfilling the expectation of all, especially the under privileged and vulnerable segment of the Ghanaian society", she added.

Dr. Elias Sory, Director-General of GHS said collaboration between Ghana and Japan in health had been very cordial for the past five years and expressed the concern of the three Northern regions where health care provision had been very limited.

"I see your assistance as very timely and would help improve child health care and reduce maternal mortality, which are very prevalent in these areas".