Saudis give to MOH

The Saudi Arabian Government has handed over about six tonnes of medical supplies to the Ministry of Health to support health care delivery.

The supplies included antibiotics, cough syrups, oral re-hydration salts (ORS), surgical antiseptics; measles vaccines and painkillers.

Mr. Sameer Mahmoud Aggad, Ambassador of the Royal Saudi Arabia, said the presentation formed part of a free two-week medical outreach programme organised by the Saudi Government.

A 20-member Saudi health team has been camping at Nima in Accra for the past two weeks where it provided general health care and other specialized services such as ear nose and throat (ENT) and paediatrics.

He said the team, which included three women gynaecologists and a paediatrician, treated about 200 people daily during their two-week programme.

Mr. Aggad said the medical outreach programme and the presentation of the drugs signified the strong relationship that exist between the two countries and pledged his country's support to assist Ghana in ensuring quality health care delivery.

Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd), Minister of Health, thanked the Saudi Government for the gesture and appealed to the ambassador to negotiate for a possible exchange programme between the two countries to ensure expanded knowledge of health professionals from both countries.

He commended the embassy for being the first donor country to abide by the rules spelt out in the donation manual of the health ministry.

"Previously, the ministry was receiving expired drugs and obsolete equipment, which became a nuisance so we decided to come out with a donation manual to guide benevolent organizations who want to donate such items to us and the Saudis have followed the instructions in the manual and we are grateful," the minister said.