The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church has offered to partner the government to complete selected Agenda 111 hospital projects across the country as part of efforts to expand access to healthcare in underserved communities.
The commitment was made when the leadership of the Ghana Adventist Health Services of the SDA Church, led by Dr. James Antwi, paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.
The delegation presented a proposal identifying four areas in which the Church intends to support healthcare delivery: trauma care, holistic wellness, oncology and cancer treatment, and rehabilitation and health services.
The proposal seeks to position the SDA Church as a strategic partner in completing and operationalising selected Agenda 111 facilities.
Mr. Akandoh said government alone could not meet the growing demands of the health sector and called on faith-based organisations, including the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), and private-sector players to support the completion of the projects.
He said government would provide the necessary guidance to partners interested in completing specific Agenda 111 facilities, stressing that such partnerships would involve direct support towards project completion rather than financial contributions to government.
The Minister urged CHAG and private-sector organisations to identify specific facilities and areas of interest to enable government to provide the appropriate direction.
He commended the SDA Church for its longstanding contribution to healthcare delivery, particularly in deprived communities, and welcomed its decision to deepen collaboration with government.
Mr. Akandoh also disclosed that government plans to construct six regional hospitals in the newly created regions, with three scheduled for construction this year and the remaining three in 2027.
He further announced plans for two cardiology centres in Tamale and at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, while noting that the cardiac catheterisation laboratory at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital had recently been installed and commissioned by the President.
The Minister said government had also introduced three major interventions—the Free Primary Healthcare initiative, the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund—as part of efforts to advance Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
The engagement between the SDA Church and the Health Ministry is expected to strengthen collaboration between government and faith-based health institutions in expanding quality and accessible healthcare delivery across the country.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
