By Prince Acquah, GNA
Cape Coast, July 20, GNA –The conference centre of the Central Regional Health Directorate in Cape Coast has finally been opened to enable the Directorate to hold official meetings in its facility after more than 15 years of abandonment.
The facility that started in 2004 to help resolve the challenge of the lack of meeting space for the Directorate, came to a standstill owing to financial constraints.
The Directorate was consequently compelled to rent external facilities to host seminars, conferences and other crucial operational and administrative events, affecting its coffers.
The commissioning of the new fully furnished 250-seater conference room, a mini-conference hall, administrative offices and reception area, therefore, meant that the Directorate would save money on renting conference halls and generate funds by making it available to the public.
Dr Mrs Akosua Owusu-Sarpong, the Regional Health Director of Health Services, at a brief ceremony to commission the centre, said the project was completed within 15 months using Internally Generated Funds with support from some health facilities and professional health groups.
Dr Owusu-Sarpong, after whom the project was named, said when well utilised the centre would help improve delivery of quality health care in the region.
“We believe in striving for excellence to improve service delivery and to save lives and this is a practical example of our commitment to serve the people,” she said.
Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, who graced the occasion expressed the hope that there would be improved health infrastructure and delivery of quality health care in the region.
He said the completion of the building was a product of strong teamwork and an indication of the resourcefulness of the Regional Directorate.
He said the edifice marked an important milestone of healthcare delivery in the region and encouraged other directorates in the other regions to emulate same.
“This project will save the Regional Health Directorate from spending funds on annual conferences, workshops and other meetings held in rented facilities,” he added.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye commended the Directorate and it donors for the feat, stressing that “this is a manifestation of what teamwork can accomplish.”
He urged them to continue to work together to improve access to quality health care delivery and health indicators in the region.
Dr Aaron Offei, a former Regional Director of Health under whom the project began, admonished them to put the facility into appropriate use for the benefit of the entire region.
He urged the leadership of the Directorate to endeavour to leverage on the potential of the centre to raise funds.
For her part, Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, the Regional Minister, praised management and said the project was a unique way of giving back to society.
“Let’s continue to work together to change the Region and move it to the next level that it deserves,” she charged.
GNA
