JICA invests in Ghana's health sector

By Caroline Pomeyie, GNA
Accra, Sept.1, GNA - Mr Norihito Yonebayashi, Senior Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), says Ghana is the best country in West Africa for investment due to its politically stable environment.

He added that JICA chose Ghana because the level of education in the country is high compared to other West African countries.

'As a donor it is very easy for us to come in because Ghana is in the best position to receive assistance from donors due to several factors including the fact that it has no record of terrorist activities,' he said.

Mr Yonebayashi said this at the signing of minutes of meeting held at the National Blood Service in Accra dubbed: 'Programme for the Reduction of the Risk Transfusion Transmitted Infection with Hemovigilance infrastructure in National Blood Service, Ghana, between JICA, National Blood Service of Ghana and Terumo.'

The programme which cost $500,000 was funded by JICA and organised in partnership with Ministry of Health, National Blood Service, Teaching Hospitals of Ghana, and Terumo Corporation.

Mr Kaoru Yoshimura, the Ambassador of Japan said: 'In order for private companies with advanced technologies to make investments into African continents on their own and contribute to quality growth, the Governments as well as donor countries need to have strategic development plan through which domestic business activities and competitiveness will surely be enhanced.'

'This will increase the incomes of people, which will make high quality services of advanced companies affordable.'

JICA collaboration programme selected Terumo mirasol pathogen reduction technology system to disseminate blood infection prevention technology.

According to JICA, an average of two per cent of blood donors are infected with HIV, and 55 per cent with malaria causing great concern about blood products.

It said because there is not yet a universal method of testing for malaria, a system for reducing levels of pathogens is needed in order to ensure a safe supply of blood products.

Hence, JICA has adopted a programme to collaborate with Terumo Corporation to support sustainable blood safety in Ghana, by reducing the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTI) with implementation of the Mirasol WB system, in conjunction with a functional Hemovigilance programme.

Mr Yonebayashi added that the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research would be revamped and that Japan is willing to provide the technology and knowhow to support the development of the country. GNA