The Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate has acquired a Mercedes-Benz Axor Truck to aid the timely transportation of medical logistics to all its units for improved healthcare delivery.
Valued at an estimated cost GH¢2 million, the truck comes with a refrigeration unit and electrical compartments to keep various supplies at the required temperatures until it reaches the final destination.
The Regional Health Director, Dr Charity Sarpong, at a brief handover ceremony in Accra on Sunday said the vehicle was crucial to provide access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and equipment for all.
According to her, the idea of purchasing the vehicle was on the back of high cost of transporting medical supplies across the region thereby impeding timely provision of healthcare services and a drain on the Health Directorate’s finances.
She said it was also in line with the “WHO target of universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030 which includes financial risk protection, access to quality essential healthcare services and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.”
“This means making health services available to everybody irrespective of your location. Healthcare delivery is a complete package. The doctors, nurses, paramedics etc. need a critical thing, that is, logistics to provide healthcare delivery.
As a region, we started the last mile distribution (LMD) in 2017 where logistics are taken to every facility so patients would not be required to purchase items such as syringes and sutures out of the facility,” Dr Sarpong added.
She further indicated that the entire regional medical stores which was razed down by fire has been re-roofed from the Directorate’s internally generated funds.
“With dedication and vision, we can turn round the health sector to make it very viable such that we will all be confident to visit any health facility irrespective of our location,” she said.
The Health Director charged managers of the facility as well as the transport section to ensure optimum maintenance to ensure it served its intended purposes.
The Shai Osudoku District Director of Health Service Rev. Ebenezer Asiamah, who prayed and dedicated the truck commended the Directorate for the foresight and initiative to help improve quality healthcare delivery.
Present at the brief ceremony were some Senior Managers of the Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate, District Directors of Health Service, and some staff of the Directorate.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
