Quasi-Health Institutions Plan For Emergencies

THE Ghana Association of Quasi-Government Health Institutions held its annual general meeting in Accra yesterday.

The meeting was to strategise on effective management of man-made disasters.  It is also to help health practitioners to fine-tune how to handle road traffic accidents.

It was on the theme: “Disaster Management, is Ghana prepared”.

The Ghana Association of Quasi-Government Health Institutions, are health institutions owned by government or government establishments in the manufacturing, mining and service industries.  The service industries include financial and educational institutions, security and law and enforcement agencies.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Mrs Cladys Ashitey said her outfit would create the means to promote private sector participation in health service delivery to ensure that additional resources were allocated to the private health provider.

“In order to fulfill this obligation, collaboration between the Ministry and quasi health institutions is paramount.

Building bridges through extensive collaboration with stakeholders in the health sector is one of the most important key areas of intervention for improved health status of Ghanaians,” she added.

Dr Ashitey acknowledged the role of quasi health institutions, saying, “they have a role to play in the management of disasters, especially if there are casualties and hospital emergencies”.

“The 37 Military and Police hospitals as quasi-government health institutions, have for many years proved that they are ready for such consequences should it happen,” the Minister added.

The Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority, Mr Owusu Sarfo, who was the guest speaker asked members to plan and prepare for natural disasters and lay emphasis on the prevention of road accidents.

“For natural disasters, we have to plan for them, to modify and mitigate their effects.  In the case of accidents, may I plead that as we prepare to manage their effects when they come, we lay emphasis on their prevention — both in the work, homes and on roads,” he stressed.

He tasked quasi-government institutions to pool resources and influence health care delivery in the country through excellence.