THE Member of Parliament (MP) for La Nkwantanang-Madina Constituency, Alhaji Abu-Bakar Saddique Boniface, on Monday donated an ambulance to the Madina Polyclinic in Accra.

In addition, the MP also presented four maternity beds and 15 hospital beds together with mattresses to the facility as part of his contribution to enhance delivery of accessible and quality healthcare to the residents of Madina and its environs.

Presenting the items, Alhaji Boniface said the area was one of the fastest growing communities in the Greater Accra Region, resulting in pressure on facilities including the polyclinic, which was inundated with people from all walks of life.

He said the absence of basic equipment for health delivery did not promote quality healthcare and also put the profession into disrepute.

According to the MP, who is also the Minister of State at the Office of the Vice President, it was embarrassing to see health personnel in taxis or private vehicles when patients were being referred to another health facility adding that “the practice is against the profession’s rules and regulations. At the end of August this year, the constituency will take delivery of the one constituency one ambulance”, which he described as more sophisticated than the one he presented.

Alhaji Boniface promised his constituents to ensure the completion of an ultra-modern health facility situated on the premises of the polyclinic and urged the personnel to give off their best to their clients.

The Municipal Health Director, Ms Priscilla Anima-Siaw, said the municipality was sharing an ambulance with the Shai-Osudoku and Ga East Municipal Assemblies, which she described as unfortunate and was having an effect on health delivery in the constituency.

“The mandate of quality healthcare delivery will not be possible without adequate equipment, the ambulance is a relief to the municipal health directorate and to the hospital,” and thanked the minister for the gesture, promising to make good use of the items donated.

The Municipal Chief Executive, Jennifer Dede Afagbedzi, said the assembly was working hard to help provide basic and quality healthcare for the people, a new health facility was near completion, stating that “the contractor working on the project will be made to work fast to complete it on schedule.”

BY LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU AND JEMIMA ESINAM KUATSINU