Covid-19 Leads to The Construction of Healthcare Facilities Across Ghana
The Coronavirus a pandemic which has rack mayhem and put to a stand still industries, commerce and many other sectors of the economy across the globe is also leading to certain positive developments especially in Ghana.
It is refreshing to note that government is learning key lessons as a result of this pandemic and is committed to creating equal opportunities for health care delivery across the country.
The President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo in his 8th Address to the Nation yesterday the 26th of April, 2020 admitted the fact that the coronavirus has exposed the health system of the country and the need to act immediately.
According to the President, out of the 260 districts across the country, 88 do not have district hospitals and 6 out of the 16 regions are without regional hospitals and as well lack infectious disease control centers.
“There are 88 districts in our country without district hospitals; we have six new regions without regional hospitals; we do not have five infectious disease control centers dotted across the country; we do not have enough testing and isolation centers for diseases like COVID-19”
He emphasized that, government will start the construction of 88 new district hospitals and 6 regional hospitals in the 6 new regions this year with a quality, standard design, one hundred bed capacity and accommodation for doctors, nurses and other health workers within a one-year duration.
Given the breakdown he said, “It will mean ten in Ashanti, nine in Volta, nine in Central, eight in Eastern, seven in Greater Accra, seven in Upper East, five in Northern, five in Oti, five in Upper West, five in Bono, four in Western North, four in Western, three in Ahafo, three in Savannah, two in Bono East and two in North East Regions.”
Furthermore, he said the country has the intention of setting up ‘Ghana Centre for Disease control’ with the establishment of three infectious disease control centers for each of the zones, i.e. Coastal, Middle Belt and Northern.
Additionally, government shall intensify policies for the growth of Ghana’s domestic pharmaceutical industry to enable it generate its own medicines and products to complement investments in the physical infrastructure.
“It is my hope and expectation that this expanded and empowered public health system will be the most enduring legacy of the pandemic. Universal health coverage in Ghana will, then, become real and meaningful, for every Ghanaian deserves good health and good healthcare.”