The West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO) on Wednesday (26 April) donated ten Suzuki TF 125 motorcycles to the Ministry of Health in Accra.
The motorcycles came with helmets and jackets and were to be delivered to the Mental Health Authority (MHA) and Traditional Medicine Authority (TMA) to facilitate health delivery especially in the rural areas.
Mr. Kofi Busia, Head of Primary Healthcare for WAHO said the donation was in response to a pledge to President Akuffo-Addo when a delegation of WAHO paid a courtesy call on the President to support health delivery in the country.
He said WAHO believed that, the health sector of every country was critical to socio-economic development, and taught it prudent to support the Ministry to ease the challenges in transportation.
WAHO is currently in the country for a meeting to develop a strategic framework for public-private partnership in health within the ECOWAS region.
Mr. Kingsley Aboagye-Gyedu, Deputy Minister of Health receiving the items thanked WAHO for the gesture, saying it would help complement government support to improve healthcare in the country.
Mr. Aboagye-Gyedu said the donation was timely because the MHA and the TMA has been neglected and needed the required attention irrespective of health status.
He said government would establish a foundation to support people with mental diseases and appealed to civil societies and other corporate organisations to support in helping to improve health delivery.
Dr. Akwesi Osei, Chief Executive Officer of MHA said mental healthcare in the community was challenged with transportation and that the Authority would visit mental patients in their homes for treatment, adding that the motorcycles would help to facilitate transportation challenges.
Dr. Osei said government alone could not carry out those responsibilities and appealed for support to take care of mentally retarded patients, especially in the communities.
Written by Kodjo Adams. This story was sourced from the Ghana News Agency website.
