Ghana and Japan governments have jointly funded the construction of a new maternity clinic to serve Sakumono and its environs.

The construction of the clinic, which began in 2014, partly funded  under the Japanese  Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects and the Government of Ghana, has facilities including; fully equipped labour and delivery wards, consulting rooms, doctors and nurses changing rooms, is set to improve health care delivery in Sakumono in the Tema West Municipality.

A former Member of Parliament for Tema West, Naa Torshie Addo commissioned the facility at a ceremony in Sakumono in the company of the Japanese Ambassador, Tsutomu Himeno, the Tema West Municipal Chief Executive, Adwoa Amoako and other dignitaries.

Chronicling events leading to the construction, she said the Japanese government, after series of discussions with her and subsequently vetting a proposal sent to the Japan Embassy, the project was eventually approved and funds were made available for its construction in 2014 and completed in 2016.

She further appealed to the Japanese Government to assist the Municipality to construct a 50 unit hostel facility for the Ghana Police Service to help improve security in the Sakumono community and its surroundings.

The Deputy Health Minister, Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of the commissioning, praised the Government of Japan for complementing Ghana’s strides in achieving Sustainable Development Goal three – which" seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages."

It also seeks to, amongst other objectives, reduce maternal and mortality ratio globally by 2030 to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.

According to Madam Tina Mensah, her outfit was ensuring the reduction of maternal mortality rates in the country by giving access to antenatal care and providing quality and affordable health care delivery at all levels.

She said the ministry would staff the maternity clinic to guarantee basic quality health services.

Nii Noble Odaifio Welentsi III, Paramount Chief of Nungua, called for the proper maintenance of the facility and emphasized that “the Ghana Health Service ought to institute proper maintenance measures to safeguard all assets of the facility and ensure its longevity.”  

Meanwhile, a brand new Renault Ambulance, fitted with the relevant medical equipment including; stretchers, maternity kits, cardiac monitors, oxygen, gloves, syringes and burn kits, was donated to the maternity clinic by the Rebecca Foundation.

Dr Sally Quartey, Tema West Municipal Director of Health, receiving the keys to the ambulance, commended the foundation and said the ambulance would facilitate health care delivery.