There are only three medical doctors in public health institutions of the Upper West Region. Mr. Bede Ziedeng, Upper West Deputy Regional Minister who disclosed this said apart from two doctors at Wa and one at the Lawra Government hospitals, the Tumu, Nandom, Jirapa and Nadowli Government hospitals are being manned by nurses.
Addressing the third ordinary meeting of the third session of the Lawra District Assembly, Mr. Ziedeng expressed regret that although, the region has produced an appreciable number of doctors all of them are working outside the region and have persistently refused transfers because of what they perceive as extended family pressures on them.
He, therefore, urged doctors, who hail from the region to rethink their stand and accept postings to the region to render their services to their own people. Mr. Ziedeng noted that government attaches great importance to uninterrupted health care delivery and appealed to the Ghana Medical Association to impress upon its members to accept postings to the region. Mr Isaac Dasoberi, Lawra District Chief Executive, said the assembly is sponsoring two medical students at the cost of ?16 million as well as 20 students in teacher training colleges and expressed the hope that the medical students in particular, will show goodwill by returning to serve the region after their studies.
The students have been bonded to work in the district for a minimum of five years after completing their courses. He said the assembly has further allocated ?45 million to rehabilitate some of the roads in the districts, which have been destroyed by the floods. Out of the assembly’s revenue target of ?106 million for the year, ?67 million has so far been realised. Earlier, Mr Ken Daduo, Regional Director of Ghana Education Service was elected with 45 votes with one against to become the new presiding member of the assembly to replace the late Dob Tang, who died about a month ago. ?GNA
