Upper East GHS receive vehicles, motorbikes(D/G, Monday, March 9, 2009 Page 36)

THE Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the Upper East Region has received nine new vehicles and 122 motorbikes from the government and UNICEF to help address its transportation problem.The vehicles and motorbikes which would be distributed to all the nine municipal and district health directorates, would enhance the implementation of the Nutrition and Malaria Control for Child Survival Programme (NMCCSP), a GHS/Ministry of Health/World Bank project.The NMCCSP focuses on community based cost-effective nutrition and malaria control interventions, which was first piloted in the Bongo district with remarkable effect on child survival indicators.After piloting the project in the region, five other districts, namely, Talensi-Nabdam, Bawku-West, Kassena-Nankana, Garu-Tempane and Kassena-Nankana West started its implementation in 2008.Three other districts—Bolgatanga, Bawku and Builsa would soon commence the programme.Speaking at the inaugural ceremony at Bolgatanga, the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Koku Awoonor-Williams said the vehicles had come at an opportune time as they would go a long way to revamp the transport system of the GHS within the region.Dr Awoonor-Williams charged municipal and district directors of health services as well as unit and facility heads to ensure value for money in the utilisation of the vehicles.He warned that the regional health administration would apply the appropriate sanctions on officers who would mishandle the vehicles.“I must cite a string caution here to municipal and district directors that the vehicles are strictly meant for health service delivery and not symbols of office and social functions. They must be at all times made available for general health service delivery”, Dr Awoonor-Williams warned.While calling on the beneficiary districts to take the maintenance of the vehicles seriously, he also urged them to ensure that all motorbike riders were trained and appropriately licensed. The regional director stressed the need for the necessary security measures to be put in place to curb the incidence of motorbike thefts.The Deputy Director-General of the GHS, Dr George Amofa commended the government and UNICEF and other partners for the donation, saying the vehicles had come at the right time.The Bongo District Director of Health Services, Madam Rofina Asuru, on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to the donors and pledged to put the vehicles to good use.