Government Moves to Improve Accommodation Facilities for Health
Government has stepped up efforts to
improve upon accommodation facilities for health workers in the Ashanti
Region as part of measures to motivate them to work harder.
Mr. Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, the Regional Minister
who announced this, said, for instance, that among the projects being
undertaken by government to meet the above objective included the
construction of a block of flats for nurses which cost about GH¢30.3
million.
Addressing the Regional People's Assembly in Kumasi on
Friday, the Minister pointed out that, the first phase of the project had been
completed and consisted of 32 flats and that the second phase which was
currently underway would also consist of 32 flats upon completion.
Besides, he said, work on the construction of a block of flats
for doctors was almost completed, adding that, the block which costs
several millions of cedis would consist of a total of 49 flats when
completed.
On other health related projects, Mr. Owusu-Ansah stated that a
Maternity and Children's Block which aimed at reducing the pressure and
the current Maternity and Children's Ward was under construction and
explained that the project was about 25 per cent complete.
The Block, he said, will comprise Children and Maternity
Wards, Out-Patient Departments (OPDs), Offices for doctors, a pharmacy
among others.
The Regional Minister touched on the Accident and Emergency
Centre at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), saying, work on
the project which is the biggest in West Africa was near completion.
The Centre, he said, would consist of Theatres, Accident Units,
Consulting Rooms, X-Ray Units, a Pharmacy, Recovery Wards, a
Mortuary as well as a Helipad where helicopters could take off and land.
Mr. Owusu-Ansah noted that, government was also working
hard to expand facilities at 20 government hospitals in the Region to
enhance health delivery services to the people.
Commenting on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS),
he disclosed that the Scheme had registered a total of 1,816,650 people
representing 40 per cent of the projected population of 4,565,683 in the
Region.
He explained that out of the figure, 1,608,488 representing 89
percent were ID Card bearers assessing free medical care from a total of
251 accredited public facilities and Private providers across the length and
breadth of the Region.
Mr. Owusu-Ansah also touched on other development
projects being embarked upon by government ranged from Agriculture,
Education, Energy, Youth Employment and Water.