New Teaching Hospital For Cape Coast – Bawumia Promises
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has pledged to establish a new teaching hospital for the residents of Cape Coast and its environs.
This medical facility, to be modeled after the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), will be situated at the University of Cape Coast campus.
The facility, when completed, is envisioned to function as a quaternary medical and research centre, offering training, research and world-class patient care services to the Central Region and beyond.
Health is a pivotal sector of the economy, hence the aim of government to enhance the health status of all citizens, irrespective of their location, gender, or political affiliation, he said.
“This aligns with the Government’s overarching goal of achieving universal health coverage and fostering a healthy populace,” Dr Bawumia said.
Dr Bawumia, was speaking at a meeting with the Central Regional House of Chiefs, to round up his two-day tour of the region on Monday, June 3, 2024.
He underscored the need to reinvigorate the local capacity within the healthcare sector, emphasising that the country could not continue to rely on other nations for healthcare support.
The NPP Flagbearer, highlighted the Government’s prioritisation of health as a fundamental aspect of prosperity, evident in its substantial investments in that sector.
After six decades of independence, he said there were still some 90 districts in the country without hospitals for residents.
A fundamental aspect to acknowledge was the Agenda 111 project, which represented a bold initiative by the Government to establish a hospital in every district.
He revealed that approximately 87 hospitals were currently under construction at various stages of completion nationwide.
In addition, Dr Bawumia highlighted his digitalisation campaign, citing the networking of hospitals, deployment of medical drones and the establishment of the epharmacy platform as major interventions aimed at improving healthcare accessibility for all citizens.
He elaborated the benefits of digitalising medical records within public health facilities, which had significantly enhanced efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity in service delivery, thereby eliminating queues and delays, and enhancing healthcare accessibility.
For the way forward, Dr Bawumia proposed the integration of medical records and patient history into a centralised database accessible by networked hospitals, facilitating seamless information sharing.
Cargo Airport in Cape Coast
In a related development, Dr Bawumia, has reassured of the government’s dedication to the establishment of the long-awaited Cargo Airport in Cape Coast.
He disclosed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, had journeyed to South Korea to deliberate on the Cape Coast Airport project, among other issues.
Consequently, he affirmed the party’s commitment to the construction of the airport, saying that it was not a mere pledge, but rather grounded on a tangible plan that was steadily advancing.
Feasibility studies for the endeavour had been finalised for the identification of a suitable site for the airport, facilitating the prompt commencement of construction to invigorate economic activities.
Dr Bawumia, offered this assurance during a gathering with the Central Regional House of Chiefs as part of his two-day visit to the area.
While unveiling the Party’s 2020 manifesto in Cape Coast, Dr Bawumia, emphasised the significance of an airport, stressing its crucial role in enhancing tourism and development in the Region.
“I bring promising news for the people of Cape Coast. We are establishing a new harbour and airport in Cape Coast. This is imperative,” he declared.
“An airport in Cape Coast is highly logical. Positioned as a significant tourist centre, the area forms a triangle with Greater Accra and Kumasi, creating a hub for economic activities.
“By connecting them with railway lines and establishing an airport here, we can drive infrastructural growth,” he added.
Earlier, Dr Bawumia toured the historic city of Cape Coast, where traders, shoppers, and travellers in the lively Kotokoraba Central Business District and Abura warmly welcomed him.
They greeted him with NPP-themed songs as he navigated through the market to interact with the traders. Upon arriving at the market, the market women and traders expressed delight, with some hailing him as the “Digital Wizard,” the rescuer of Ghana, and a visionary leader.
“Dr Bawumia is the ultimate saviour” and “Dr Bawumia will undoubtedly emerge victorious” were among the resolute statements made by some market women, while others requested, “We require financial aid” and “kindly share some funds with us.”
“We have commenced the interconnection of health facilities under the Ghana Health Service on a unified digital platform. “Teaching and Regional hospitals have been interconnected, enabling seamless communication,” he said.
The Vice President, commended the enhanced services provided by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) due to digitalisation.
“The NHIA has digitised its operations to combat fraudulent claims. Mobile phone-based renewal of NHIA registration has eliminated bottlenecks and enhanced healthcare accessibility for those most in need.”
