Set up public health emergency fund to address health challenges – SEND Ghana

The Country Director of SEND Ghana, Madam Harriet Nuamah Agyemang has underscored the need for government to take pragmatic steps to allocate funds for citizens at the local assemblies level.

To ensure emergency preparedness and response, government must set up public health emergency funds at the local and national levels to adequately prepare the country against health challenges, she added.

Madam Harriet Nuamah Agyemang made these assertions on the backdrop of the support that rendering donor funds to support the country’s health delivery system.

Speaking at SEND Ghana’s Internal Dialogue on Public Health Emergency Financing in Accra, she advised stakeholders to identify health value chains and start exploring other avenues of raising funds for healthcare.

She however called on the Health Ministry to institute public health emergency funds into the revised Public Health Act currently under review to enable the Act have parliamentary approval.

According to her, the gesture will enable stakeholders to have a committed source of funding to implement the Public Health Act to help support and address emergency preparedness.

For his part, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr. Rex Many Yebbah said government is executing public health emergency funds at the district levels and thus called for a legal framework to regulate financial outgoings.

He said funding from the donor community, hence stakeholders in the health sector must institute innovative ways to finance public health emergencies, adding that the move be done in a manner to adequately mobilize resources to support the country for unexpected health disasters.

Adopt best practices to leverage education, Education Minister urges ATU

Report by Ben ARKYA

The Minister of Education, Mr. Hamua Iddrissu has urged Accra Technical University (ATU) to roll out a comprehensive framework in adopting best practices in research and learning for the advancement of education in the country.

He thus challenged the University to build the capacity of staffs to enable them be abreast with the emerging trends in the fields of academia as well as education.

The Minister again urged the institution to fervently put in place strategies to enhance the relationship among industry players which forms part of the drive for students to have first-hand skills in their respective working endeavors.

Mr. Hamua Iddrissu made the call in a speech read on his behalf by Dr. Emmanuel New, new Director of the Tertiary Ministry of Education at the 75th anniversary, under the theme, “75 Years of Impacting Society and Driving Innovation,” in Accra.

He said ATU was among the first universities in the country to be elevated to technical universities as a result of its cutting-edge programmes and rapid growth in infrastructure.

According to him, government will continue to provide the needed resources to support the country’s educational structure to have a corresponding increase in students’ intake and enrollment.

Mr. Iddrisu urged alumni of the University to commit and support facilities in the institution in sponsorship projects as part of the effort to give back to their alma mater.

The Special Guest of Honour for the occasion, His Royal Majesty Ga Mantse, Tackie Teiko Tsuru II (Ga Mantse) said ATU have become a hub of academic excellence, developing skills and enhancing technical and vocational knowledge.

He said education transforms communities for socio-economic growth and development, and urged ATU to forge partnerships with both state and international universities to leverage the institution to a world class standard.

He therefore applauded staff and management for their unwavering commitment in lifting the university to greater heights, adding that it had impacted greatly in the academic space.

For his part, the Ag. Vice Chancellor of ATU, Prof. Amevi Acakpovi said the University will continue to introduce more programmes and initiatives to meet global standards.

“The University’s success story was as a result of hard work, dedication and commitment which have impacted on academic growth and development,” he said.