Parliament Approves, 26m Euro For 4 Health Project

The Cabinet has approved for the consideration of Parliament, a �26 million facility for the construction of two new district hospitals at Akontombra and Elubo in the Western Region. The facility will also support the construction of an enhanced polyclinic at Bogosu and the upgrading of an existing facility at Mpohor into a polyclinic. According to the Minister of Communications, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, two smaller facilities would be constructed at Nsuaem and Wassa Dunkwa, both in the Western Region. �This is just another demonstration of President John Mahama�s commitment to expand access to quality healthcare delivery across the country by bridging the gap in service delivery through the provision of additional health infrastructure among others,� the minister explained. The long-term objective of the �26 million project, according to Dr Boamah, was to reduce mortalities in the beneficiary districts, especially child mortality (Millennium Development Goal MDG 4), maternal mortality (MDG 5) and mortality related to HIV and AIDS and Malaria (MDG 6). At its previous sitting, the Cabinet approved a similar facility for the construction of 15 polyclinics in the Central and Greater Accra regions. Other major hospital projects being undertaken by the government include the Ridge Hospital expansion project, the University of Ghana Teaching Hospital, the Kumasi Military Hospital, Phase two of the Tamale Teaching Hospital and the Police Hospital expansion project. The projects, when completed, will make available close to three thousand additional hospital beds. �As a government founded on the social democratic tradition, the John Mahama administration remains committed to its philosophy and desire to improve access to quality health care in deprived areas in order to reduce morbidity, disability and mortality,� Dr Boamah added.