President John Dramani Mahama has dismissed misconceptions surrounding the Free Primary Healthcare Programme, stating that tricycles deployed under the initiative are not intended to serve as ambulances.
Speaking at a sod-cutting ceremony for a 24-hour model market in Bimbilla,in the Northern region he explained that the tricycles are specifically designed to support health workers in delivering outreach services and improving access to care in underserved communities, rather than responding to emergencies.
“Let me be clear, l mean if you don’t understand something ask don’t jump to conclusions, those tricycles are not ambulances.
“ Those tricycles are meant for the heath workers and health volunteers to go from village to village for screening, that is what they are meant for,” he said.
The President further noted that the tricycles are equipped with compartments at the back to store vaccines and maintain their required temperature during transportation, making them suitable for mobile health services.
According to him, in northern Ghana, many female health workers are able to ride motorcycles, which they use for community screening and outreach.
He explained that in southern Ghana, mobility remains a challenge for some health workers, particularly those who are unable to ride motorcycles, making it necessary to provide alternative means of transport to support their outreach duties.
“In the south, many of the health workers cannot ride a motorcycle but you need to give them a means of transport to be able to go and do the work you have given them.
“ So in the Southern part where the health workers cannot ride motorcycles, they will be given motorcycles to go from village to village to do their work,” he stated.
He added that in the northern regions, Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds will be equipped with motorcycles to facilitate the work of health personnel.
Source: Bertina Ofosu
