Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu together with the GHS Director-General, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye in an official handing over.
The Minister for Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has handed over 49 VW Amarok and Teramont vehicles under the government’s vehicle hire purchase scheme to the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
The donation is the first batch of 1000 units of vehicles that would be procured under the government’s hire purchase arrangement, between 2020 and 2023.
These vehicles are expected to augment the transport fleet of the service and ensure that health services are brought to the doorstep of clients, especially those in remote communities.
Mr. Agyeman-Manu said the vehicles contribute to the achievement of the government’s vision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and a healthy population.
He said despite the adverse impact of Covid-19 the Ministry has been successful in achieving its strategic objectives.
“Huge investments have been made in civil works, medical equipment, and transportation provision,” he said.
Mr. Agyeman-Manu further noted that in line with the government’s policy to help industrialize the economy, boost employment, encourage investment and preserve foreign exchange, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been directed to source such procurements from locally assembled vehicles.
“Indeed, other vehicle manufacturing companies are in the process of establishing assembling plants in the country, for which the government will consider their vehicles using the relevant procurement processes,” he said.
The vehicles were received by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye who expressed his appreciation to the government for its support.
He said the provision of transport services is an important support service system that provides spatial mobility for health professionals to deliver health services to the population and ensure timely positioning of health logistics for effective and efficiency of health provision.
Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye said the vehicles will be distributed to 45 health facilities across the country.
“The vehicles are comprehensively insured, with tracking devices to be fitted on them for usage monitoring and for security of the occupants and property,” he stated.
Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye urged beneficiary health facilities to effectively manage the vehicles to achieve uninterrupted and reliable delivery of health service in the country, particularly to rural population.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri