Government determined to make quality health care accessible - Alhaji Mubarak

Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, Minister of Youth and Sports, has re-affirmed government's determination to make quality health care accessible to all and sundry to enhance their living standards.

He said efforts would be made to equip hospitals and other health centres with the needed facilities to enable them to operate more efficiently and effectvely.

Alhaji Mubarak, who is also Member of Parliament for Asawasi, gave the assurance in a speech read for him at a joint durbar on Health and Sanitation organised by management of Manhyia District Hospital and Zabon Zongo Community Unit Committee in Kumasi on Thursday.

It was to educate the residents on the need for proper hygiene and good sanitation practices to prevent diseases.

Alhaji Mubarak said government would complete the construction of a new block for the hospital and advised the people to embrace the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and pay their premiums to enable them enjoy its benefits.

He announced that part of his share of the Common Fund would be used to pay for the health insurance premium of 500 needy people in his constituency.

Dr Kwasi Awudzi Yeboah, Kumasi Metropolitan Director for Health Services, asked members of unit committees to sensitise people in their communities on the importance of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation.

Dr George Aubyn, Medical Superintendent in-charge of the hospital, said negotiations and discussions were far advanced to involve members of unit committees in the decision making process and management of the hospital.

He said some programmes had been planned to create awareness about the need for people to report early to the hospital when they were sick.

Miss Linda Agyarko-Poku, a nurse at the hospital, expressed concern about increasing recorded cases of malaria, tuberculosis and cholera at the hospital.

GNA