20 Cuban medical specialists arrive to support Ghana's health system

Health News Saturday, February 2, 2019

Source: Graphic.com.gh

2019-02-02

Twenty Cuban medical specialists are in the country to support the Ghanaian health system, especially in specialized areas.

Physicians include intensive care specialists, pathologists, nephrologists (kidney specialists), cardiologists (heart specialists) and internal medicine specialists.

The others are anesthesiologists (care before and after surgery), clinicians, oncologists (oncologists) and orthopedic surgeons (specialists in skeletal deformities).

They will provide services at Cape Coast University Hospital, Tamale University Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital and St Johns Hospital, among others.

The Ministry of Health and representatives of the Cuban Embbady signed a two-year agreement in Accra yesterday.

Soft

Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu signed on behalf of Ghana, while Cuba's ambbadador to Ghana, Pedro Luis Despaigne Gonzalez, was initialed for his country.

Mr. Agyeman-Manu said the new agreement was intended to address the uneven geographical distribution of specialized doctors in the country, which, he noted, is one of the health sector's challenges. country.

"Two cities in the country employ more than 60% of doctors. Therefore, this commitment to the Cuban government to help us as specialists would contribute to equity in the delivery of quality health care throughout the country, "he said.

The minister thanked the Cuban government for its support over the years and promised the safety of the country's doctors.

"We have alerted national security and appropriate security measures have been put in place to protect them," he added.

Bilateral relations

Gonzalez said that while the agreement focuses on the health sector, it is part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

He said that Cuba has been supporting the Ghanaian health system since 1983 by bringing doctors to the country.

"We are not only using Cuban doctors to support the delivery of health care, we are also helping to develop Ghana's human resources.

"That's why more than 3,000 Ghanaians have studied in different areas of medicine in Cuba since 1983," said the ambbadador.

According to Mr. Gonzalez, this year would commemorate the 60th anniversary of Cuba's diplomatic relations with Ghana and expressed his country's determination to continue working with Ghana in the health, education and other sectors.