The Japan Embassy in Ghana, headed by the Ambassador Naoto Nikai, in collaboration with the Centre for Pregnancy and Childbirth Education (CePaCe), on Monday, August 18, 2014 handed over two neonatal ventilators to the Paediatric Department of the 37 Millatary Hospital to help improve child health issues in Ghana.
The medical equipments, which are the first-ever to be received in the country, was funded through Japan’s Grants Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGHSP) at a cost of $120,000, and is expected to help decrease the rate of child mortality in the country caused by respiratory challenges.
Addressing the gathering at the ceremony, Dr. Genevieve Insaidoo, a representative of the facilitator organization, CePaCe, revealed that her outfit’s attention was drawn to the lack of support facilities in the country by a newspaper publication, which was subsequently confirmed through further researches conducted by CePaCe to ascertain the threat that the unavailability of such equipments posed to the lives of newborn babies.
She therefore expressed elation on the part of her organization to have facilitated the process for the acquisition of the ventilator equipment for the country, which according to her, would help to preserve babies for at least 28 days after birth.
Mr. Naoto Nikai, in turn, said the Japanese Government was committed to assisting Ghana to meet its development goals, adding that the donation of the equipment was in line with this bilateral commitment.
He also urged management and staff of the hospital to take good care of the state-of-the-art facility which could last up to 30 years if properly maintained.
Speaking on behalf of the hospital, Col Ralph Ametepi, thanked all stakeholders for the kind gesture and called on corporate bodies to emulate the Japanese Government.
He, however, appealed to the Japanese Embassy to help train some staff of the hospital on the use and maintenance of the equipment.
The new ventilators are user friendly with easy-to monitor features as well as great synchronization features capable of providing ventilation for patients.
The acquisition of neonatal ventilators project was overseen by the Centre for pregnancy and Childbirth Education (CePaCe), a non-governmental organization dedicated to improving maternal and child health in the country through public education, research and support.
By: Prince Asare, Diplomatic Call
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