Government procures 161 ambulances – Health Minister

The Government has procured 161 ambulances at the cost of 10 million Euros for the establishment of the National Ambulance Service, Mr. Alban Bagbin, Minister of Health, said at the weekend.

He said the Ministry would soon take delivery of 50 of the “well-equipped Benz ambulances,” being imported from Germany, and the remaining ones would be brought into the country by the end of the year.

Mr. Bagbin announced this when the Rotary Club of Westhoughton in partnership with Ghana Outlook, a charitable organisation and Sunyani Central Rotary Club, presented 80 wheelchairs to persons with disability in Sunyani.

Children aged between 6 and 14 benefited from the wheelchairs valued at $40,000.

Mr. Bagbin said that the establishment of the National Ambulances Service had become necessary because of the alarming spate of road accidents, and the attendant loss to the state.

He said the Service would help the health sector to respond quickly to emergencies.

Mr Bagbin said the Government placed premium on the health of Ghanaians and would continue to put in place interventions to enable citizens to access quality health care delivery.

Mr. Bagbin expressed concern that despite a number of interventions to help the disabled to fend for themselves, some of them continued to roam the streets of Accra and other cities for alms.

He asked the disabled to engage in useful ventures, live productive lifestyles to be able to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, commended the Rotary club for its contribution towards the improvement of the health sector.

Source: GNA