Kwaku Agyeman-Manu (middle) with some dignitaries and trainees
FOUR HUNDRED and thirty-five (435) newly trained Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) have passed out of the Paramedic and Emergency Care Training School (PECTS) at a colourful parade at Nkenkaasu in the Offinso North District of the Ashanti Region.
The trainees, who were the 10th batch of the Emergency Trained Technicians, have successfully undergone a one-year emergency medical care training as well as defensive driving.
Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Minister of Health, who was the reviewing officer for the parade, said that government would continue in its efforts to resource the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to improve on its emergency response capabilities.
According to the Health Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dormaa Central, “Nana Akufo-Addo and his government is committed to ensuring that health service delivery is brought to the doorsteps of everyone living in Ghana,” adding that the government recognises that health is a basic right of all people and is necessary for both the economic and social development of society.
The aim of the government, he added, was to administer, maintain and operate a nationwide comprehensive emergency medical services system that was designed to reduce medical emergency deaths, injuries and permanent long-term disabilities through the implementation of a fully integrated cohesive network of related components.
The system would provide for the arrangement of personnel, facilities and such equipment primarily in the pre-hospital setting for the effective and coordinated delivery of health care services under emergency conditions whether occurring as a result of the patient’s condition, natural disasters or other causes.
Mr. Agyeman-Manu appealed to transport organisations such as the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) and other transport associations to cooperate with the National Ambulance and other Emergency Services to gain easy access to the roads in the course of their duties to save many lives.
Simon Osei-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, commended the National Ambulance Service for the decision to establish the paramedic and emergency care training school in the region; the first of its kind in Ghana and the sub-region.
He said that the passing out of the EMTs attested to the passion and dedication of the NAS and the Ministry of Health’s commitment to constantly improve and provide excellent services to the citizenry by administering, maintaining and operating a nationwide comprehensive Emergency Medical Service to reduce medical emergency deaths and injuries.
District Chief Executive (DCE) for Offinso North, David Kwasi Asare, appealed to the Ministry of Health to improve facilities at the training school to increase enrolment.
Nana Kwaku Dua II, the acting President of Offinso Traditional Council, in an address, thanked the NAS for establishing the school in the area.
FROM David Afum, Kumasi