Ghana’s health system has benefitted from COVID fight – Health Minister
The government has indicated that the fight against the coronavirus pandemic has helped to improve the country’s health systems and its focus going forward is to continue to invest in the sector.
Addressing the fourth edition of the Nation Building Update in Accra on Tuesday, 20 October 2020 on the theme: “Protecting Lives and Livelihoods in the midst of crisis”, Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu noted that the strong leadership and commitment to Ghana’s COVID-19 response by President Akufo-Addo has seen health facilities in the country benefit immensely through the numerous investment in the sector.
He said: "Our fight against the virus has seen heavy investment both from government and the private sector.
"On the side of government, there was an initial $100 million investment support declared by the President and subsequent commitment of more resources enabling the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other supplies.
"We have also seen private sector-led initiatives notably the construction of an Infectious Disease Center here in Accra with plans to construct similar centres across the country."
Detailing some of the benefits, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye noted the improved bed capacity of major health facilities across the country, the provision of important health equipment such as ventilators and the expansion of regional isolation centres as key government interventions that has helped the fight against the virus.
According to him, the establishment of two GeneXpert sites in the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and Effia Nkwanta Hospital helped improve the country’s response to infectious diseases and will go a long way to address future outbreaks.
Deputy Trade and Industry Minister, Mr Robert Ahomka-Lindsay recalled the disruption in the global supply chain and the resulting need to ramp up local production of PPE. This he said has boosted the country’s production capacity and has helped the country gain foreign exchange in excess of $16 million.
He also noted that the local production of supplies such as nose masks and hospital gowns has also helped generate more than 10,000 jobs and has helped lessen the country’s reliance on the importation of some of these items.
Source: classfmonline.com
Trending News
Labone PTA donates learning aid to school
15:10AstraZeneca and partners launch transformative Cancer Care Africa programme in Kenya
12:06We can't compel Akufo-Addo to receive anti-LGBTQ+ bill - High Court
11:26Ejisu by-election: I was just trying to feed 2 hungry EC officials – Nyarko denies bribery claim
14:39Akufo-Addo's 'get-up-before-greeting-me' posturing at Chiefs ‘a recognition of their esteemed role in society' - Asa B
12:00I just want to bring back Nkrumah’s state-enterprises – Kyiri Abosom
06:53Chiefs not obliged to rise up and greet during visits: Prof Atubuga
14:13Fuel Africa 2024: Futurize and AstraZeneca unveil groundbreaking innovations for health tech and environmental sustainability
11:57Ejisu by-poll: 'Voting for Aduomi is handing over power to Mahama' – Bawumia
11:04Accra ‘dumsor’ due to flooding of substations – ECG
10:55