Health committees inaugurated in Ho

Story: Tim Dzamboe, Ho
06/03/08
THE Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to solid partnership at all levels to enhance the health status of Ghanaians.
He has, therefore, emphasised the need for all stakeholders to work together as partners of institutions for the common good of the country.
Mr Dzamesi said this when he addressed a durbar at the forecourt of the Regional Co-ordinating Council to inaugurate the regional and district health committees at Ho.
The inauguration, which was the second in the region under the present government, was in accordance with the Ghana Health Service and Teaching Act 525 of 1996, that mandated the constitution of regional and district health committees for every three years.
The regional minister urged members of the committee to be committed, honest, understanding, co-operative, resourceful and objective in their approach to work, adding that they must appreciate the challenges facing the institutions as well as the communities they served.
He said it was for the good health of the people that the government introduced the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to make access to health care easy for all Ghanaians.
Mr Dzamesi added that the government was also doing all it could to ensure that health institutions were provided with their basic needs for them to function effectively.
He stated that even though many people, especially those in the Volta Region thought that the NHIS was a political ploy of the government, there was no doubt that they had now seen the importance of the scheme.
“Our government is a courageous and caring one and will only take actions and institute policies, which will be in the best interest of all Ghanaians,” he stated.
The regional minister appealed to people who had not registered with the NHIS to do so as early as possible to enable them to enjoy free medical care.
“This is a great achievement for which the government deserves a pat on the back,” he said.
Mr Dzamesi advised the scheme managers of all health insurance schemes managers not only to work harder to ensure maximum coverage in the region, but must also live above reproach.
He stressed the need for them to discharge their functions in a honest manner and in strict compliance with the tenets of the scheme.
The Volta Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Andrew Arde-Acquah, explained the essence of the district health committee, saying that it was an advisory body that was also mandated to play advocacy and facilitating roles.
He urged the committees to help mobilise the necessary resources, be it in cash or in kind, to advance the health service agenda throughout the region in conformity with the motto of the Ghana Health Service’s motto: “Their health, our concern.”
A representative of the committees, Dr L.K.T. Dorvlo, thanked the authorities for the confidence reposed in them and pledged to work assiduously for the benefit of the society.