He said sustained public education was needed in local communities to help people keep their surroundings clean and avoid lifestyles that put their health at risk. Mr Agyeman Manu made the call in an address read for him at the inauguration of Out Patients Department (OPD) and Diagnostic Centre for the Methodist Faith Healing Hospital at Ankaase, in the Afigya-Kwabre South District of the Ashanti Region.

The occasion was also used to lay a foundation for the construction of dental clinic and nursing training school at the Hospital.The 250 capacity OPD complex has two theatres and emergency wards while the Diagnostic Centre has a Mammography and other specialized units to aid disease management and treatment.

All the projects were financed by the Hospital through its Internally Generated Funds (IGF) and support from its partners abroad. Mr Agyeman Manu praised the Board and management for the initiative to expand infrastructure and engagement of specialists to provide specialists care to improve health care delivery in the area.

He said the objective of the Ministry was to provide quality health care to all people irrespective of their circumstances and commended the Methodist Church for complementing government’s efforts at improving the health status of the people, especially those in rural communities.

Mrs Elizabeth Agyeman, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, said the wealth of every nation was the health of its people.   He said the inauguration of the facilities were a further demonstration of the commitment of the Methodist Church to support the development of the country.

Mrs Agyeman said the establishment of the dental nursing school would help bridge the human resource gap in the dental health care in the Region.

Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang, Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, praised the management and staff of the Hospital for their hard work and dedication which had helped improved health care delivery in the Kwabre area.

He, however, urged them to consider adding emergency services, especially for children and women as well as the construction of isolation wards and hostels for people whose relatives were on admission at the facility.

Mr Joseph Atta Amankwaa, Chief Executive of the Hospital, said the Hospital had been accredited to provide training to health professionals both local and international. He said the Hospital had in the last four years expanded infrastructure and engage more specialist doctors and nurses to provide holistic health care to the people.

Mr Amankwaa said the Hospital had spent about GHC2.2 million from its IGF to expand facilities to support health care delivery in the country.  Right Reverend Christopher Nyarko Andam, Methodist Bishop of Kumasi, who is also the Board Chairman of the Hospital, said the Church was committed to ensure the growth and development of the hospital to one of the enviable facilities in the Region.

He said the Church believed in holistic ministry and would continue to work to support the government to provide quality health care to the people.