The Deutsche Gesellschaft fur International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in collaboration with Bayer AG and Ghana Heart Initiative (GHI) has donated 313 pieces of Medical Equipment worth €200,00.00 to some health facilities within the Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate.
The items included 164 sphygmomanometers, 41 weighing scales with height meters, 43 glucometers, 32 electrocardiograms, 4 monitors and 29 defibrillators.
The items are expected to be distributed to 44 health facilities in the Greater Accra region, which are participating in the Ghana Heart Initiative.
The donation will support Ghana in confronting the challenges posed by Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs), which are among the main causes of death in the country.
CVDs are a growing public health problems in Ghana and other African countries.
In sub-Saharan Africa, individuals at high risk of CVDs are usually at the peak of their productive years.
Currently, CVDs are the leading causes of death in the adult population of Ghana and Africa.
Early diagnosis and adequate management of the risk factors in CVSs can however reduce the fatal consequences.
In her remarks at the event, the country Director GIZ Ghana, Mrs Regina Bauerochse Barbosa reiterated that her outfit has been a partner country of Germany for more than 30 years.
He added that as a provider of international cooperation services for sustainable development, GIZ works mostly on behalf of the German Federal Government and implements interventions that are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This, she said, is done in partnership with public and private sectors, civil society organisations among others.
One such GIZ project is the Ghana Heart Initiative.
This project was jointly designed by The Bayer AG, GIZ and Ghanaian health institutions aimed at improving the prevention, diagnosis, and management CVDs at tertiary, secondary and primary levels of care in Ghana.
The number one cause of death in the adult population in Ghana is Hypertensive heart disease.
Mrs. Barbosa used the opportunity to on behalf of GIZ, thanked their partners – the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, for their invaluable cooperation with the Ghana Heart Initiative.
Delivering his keynote address, the Minister for Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu said, “The Ministry has followed with keen interest all activities being provided under the initiative and does not take them for granted at all. We are therefore pleased to sign an addendum to the MOU, which provides for the extension of the GHI to other regions of Ghana and also to replicate deepened or specialised trainings in Deep Vein Thrombosis for 6 other public hospitals in Ghana following the pilot in Kumasi.”
He encouraged beneficiary facilities to take good care of the equipment and to the use for their intended purpose and to maintain them on timely basis as required by policy to ensure their longevity.
Mr Agyeman-Manu seized opportunity to call on all relevant governmental agencies and stakeholders to do their best in supporting the Ghana Heart Initiative.
