UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
By Masahudu Jinkor
The President of the Republic of Ghana and the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, His Excellency Nana Addo-Dankwah Akufo-Addo
on Thursday August 15, 2024, commissioned the rehabilitated and refurbished Bolgatanga Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga.
The state-of-the-art facility, transformed at a cost of $52 million, is poised to serve as a beacon of hope and a centre of excellence in healthcare delivery in the Upper East Region and beyond.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, President Akufo-Addo underscored the importance of accessible quality healthcare, asserting that it is a fundamental right for every Ghanaian. “Access to quality healthcare is a fundamental right of every Ghanaian citizen, and it is the responsibility of government to ensure that the exercise of this right is not just theoretical, but, more importantly, practical,” the President stated.
He indicated that, the revitalized hospital is testament to his government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that no Ghanaian is left behind in the quest for quality healthcare.
The transformation of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, which has undergone several renovations over the years, was made possible through a $20 million concessional loan from the Saudi Fund for Development, which funded the Second and Third Phases of the project. An additional $32 million from the same fund he intimated ensured the completion of critical infrastructure, including a medical gas plant, modern kitchen, a central sterile supply department, a mortuary block, staff accommodation, and medical equipment installations, among others.
The President acknowledged the challenges faced during the reconstruction of the project, particularly funding issues that threatened to limit its scope.
However, through persistent efforts by the Ministry of Health, the necessary resources were secured, allowing for the comprehensive upgrade of the facility resulting in a modern facility equipped to meet the growing healthcare needs of the region’s population.
President Akufo-Addo also took the opportunity to outline his administration’s broader healthcare agenda, including the ongoing Agenda 111 initiative, which aims to construct 111 district hospitals and regional facilities across the country. As of May 2024, work on 96 sites is actively progressing, with several of them expected to be completed by the end of the 2024.
He assured the nation of government’s commitment to promoting the development of all regions, regardless of their political affiliations.
“The NPP government remains dedicated to promoting the development of this Region, even though the Region has consistently not supported our political objectives,” he remarked, stressing that the benefits of progress will reach every corner of Ghana.
In addition to infrastructure, the President highlighted the need to address the uneven distribution of healthcare workers, particularly in rural and under-served areas.
He urged the Ministry of Health to expedite the finalization of an incentive package to attract and retain medical professionals where they are most needed”.
The President reflected on his government’s achievements in the healthcare sector by noting the recruitment of over 200,000 medical professionals since 2017 and the significant expansion of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which has seen a 69% increase in active membership under his watch. He pointed the addition of 8,665 hospital beds across the country as a clear indication of his government’s determination to expand healthcare infrastructure in the country.
The President his expressed his gratitude on behalf of the people of Ghana to the Saudi Fund for Development for their financial support and to all stakeholders who contributed in diverse ways to the successful completion of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital project.
He called on the people of Bolgatanga and the Upper East Region for that matter to take ownership of the facility by taking proper care of it, and to also support the health workers serving the Upper East community.
“The Akufo-Addo Government remains committed to the development and well-being of every Ghanaian. We act without bias or discrimination,” he affirmed, before officially declaring the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital open for public use.
The commissioning of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital marked not just the completion of a project, but the beginning of a new chapter in healthcare delivery for the people of the Region.
In an earlier address, the Head of the Saudi Fund for Development, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Samari said the friendship between Ghana and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia dates back to 1977 when an agreement was signed for the execution of 10 different projects in Ghana. He praised the relationship between the two countries describing it as a transformational change for development in the area of Water and Sanitation, Education as well as Health.
Earlier in his speech the Saudi Ambassador to Ghana His Excellency Sautam Abdul-Rahaman said the Saudi Health Project in Ghana is so dear to the hearts of the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and pledged to support whenever necessary. He thanked all the partners involved in the execution of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital project.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye in earlier address said government’s investment in the health sector in the area of provision of health equipment was commendable saying the provision of the CT Scan in the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital would save patients the cost of travelling to Tamale in the Northen Region for such services.
Source – gbcuraonline.com
