The UNICEF in collaboration with the Korean International Corporation Agency (KOICA) has donated 30 Yamaha motorbikes to the Upper East Regional Health Directorate to improve upon New Born Care Services.
The motorbikes are expected to fill the transportation gaps within the Regional Health Directorate and to ensure that healthcare workers reach out to communities for improved healthcare delivery.
The partners would also rehabilitate 65 out of 120 Community Health Preventive Service Compounds (CHPS).
Mr Woon-Ki lyeo, South Korean Ambassador to Ghana, at a brief handing over ceremony at the Regional medical stores at Zuarungu, near Bolgatanga, urged health personnel to commit themselves to saving the lives of new born babies, saying children were critical to the nation’s development.
He called for active participation in the maintenance and management of all logistics provided by the partnership under the ‘Human Development through Life Cycle Approach Project’ which seeks to support child development from birth to adolescence, in the area of health and education.
Ms Susan Namondo Ngongi, UNICEF Country Representative, said neo natal mortality continues to be a challenge in Ghana with new born deaths contributing to over 48 per cent of deaths of children fewer than five years in the country.
Ms Ngongi, who was worried about the statistics, said the donation would help address prevailing challenges of transportation which hitherto hindered health workers from reaching out to communities.
She said the US$ 4.5million HBPNC project, funded by KOICA in partnership with UNICEF had facilitated the establishment of three new born care units in two districts in the northern region, one in the Builsa District and also set up newborn care corners in 32 health centers.
Mr Albert Abongo, the Upper East Regional Minister, who received the motorbikes and handed them over to the Regional Health Directorate, thanked UNICEF and KOICA and called for more of such support to improve health services.
Dr Kofi Issah, the Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, who received the motorbikes on behalf of the Directorate, said the Directorate would ensure that its transport policy was properly adhered to, to safeguard misuse of the motorbikes.