The Deputy Minister of Health, Mr Rojo Mettle-Nunoo, has reiterated the resolve of his ministry to ensure that Ghanaians attain the best health status. Mr Mettle-Nunoo said this in an address delivered on his behalf by the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Mr George Kumi Kyeremeh, at the inauguration of the Royal Hospital, a private hospital, in Ho last weekend. He also said that the inauguration of the hospital could not have come at a better time when the government was exploring every possible way to ensure that every citizen, irrespective of geographical, socio-cultural and political affiliation, was healthy and contributed towards nation building. “The health sector has a goal of contributing to the overall socio-economic development of the nation by making basic quality healthcare accessible to all citizens. It is in this light that I consider the Royal Hospital as a key partner to help achieve our national objective,” he stressed. He said that it was a known fact that good health was not just the absence of disease or injury but complete physical and mental well-being through a harmonious relation with self, others and the environment. “We all have collective responsibilities as individuals, families and community to stay healthy. We need to keep our environment clean, observe basic hygiene practices and maintain healthy lifestyle,” he admonished. He indicated that the Royal Hospital had a comprehensive programme which took into consideration, curative and preventive services. Mr Mettle-Nunoo noted that the central role of the client and quality customer services was of cardinal importance for good health outcomes. “I, therefore, wish to encourage you to be mindful of the Ministry of Health Patient Charter and uphold the highest level of professionalism and patient dignity in the discharge of your duties at the hospital,” he urged. The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, stressed that it took the collaboration of the state and the private sector to fully cover the health needs of the people of Ghana and that government would embrace every move by the private sector to partner the state in the delivery of quality healthcare. He lauded the staff of Royal Hospital for ensuring that it recorded no infant or maternal death in a little over a year of its operation and urged them to continue with that so as to ensure that MDGs 4 and 5 which addressed infant and maternal mortality were achieved. For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr Sylvester Mensah, said he was proud of Royal Hospital’s preparedness to partner the authority in the provision of quality healthcare and urged the staff to treat all clients with respect and dignity.