Government has stepped up efforts to improve upon accommodation facilities for health workers in the Ashanti Region as part of measures to motivate them to work harder. Mr. Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, the Regional Minister who announced this, said among the projects being undertaken included the construction of a block of flats for nurses which cost about GH¢30.3 million. Addressing the Regional People’s Assembly in Kumasi on Friday, the Minister pointed out that, the first phase of the project had been completed and consisted of 32 flats and that the second phase which was currently underway would also consist of 32 flats upon completion. Besides, he said, work on the construction of a block of flats for doctors was almost completed, adding that, the block which costs several millions of cedis would consist of a total of 49 flats when completed. On other health related projects, Mr. Owusu-Ansah stated that a Maternity and Children’s Block aimed at reducing the pressure on the current Maternity and Children’s Ward was under construction and explained that the project was about 25 per cent complete. The Block, he said, will comprise Children and Maternity Wards, Out-Patient Departments (OPDs), Offices for doctors, a pharmacy among others. The Regional Minister touched on the Accident and Emergency Centre at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), saying, work on the project which is the biggest in West Africa was near completion. The Centre, he said, would consist of Theatres, Accident Units, Consulting Rooms, X-Ray Units, a Pharmacy, Recovery Wards, a Mortuary as well as a Helipad where helicopters could take off and land. Mr. Owusu-Ansah noted that, government was also working hard to expand facilities at 20 government hospitals in the Region to enhance health delivery services to the people. Commenting on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), he disclosed that the Scheme had registered a total of 1,816,650 people representing 40 per cent of the projected population of 4,565,683 in the Region. He explained that out of the figure, 1,608,488 representing 89 percent were ID Card bearers assessing free medical care from a total of 251 accredited public facilities and Private providers across the length and breadth of the Region. Mr. Owusu-Ansah also touched on other development projects being embarked upon by government ranged from Agriculture, Education, Energy, Youth Employment and Water. Source: GNA