The United States, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has donated a $220,000 mobile health clinic van to HopeXchange Medical Center in Kumasi to facilitate medical outreach for Ghanaians.
Dr. Zohra Balsara, Health Office Director USAID, Ghana at the handing over ceremony explained that the mobile clinic is equipped with an ultrasound machine and printer, an echocardiogram machine, two examination beds, three consulting rooms, air conditioners, a refrigerator for Vaccines, a generator and power system.
According to her, HopeXchange Medical Center in Kumasi will manage and operate the clinic and provide specialized medical screenings to communities in the Ashanti region and beyond.
She expressed the hope that with the introduction of the mobile clinic, preventive, promotive and curative health services would be brought to the doorsteps of those who are unable to travel to Kumasi.
Dr. Zohra, USAID/Ghana Health Office Director said the beauty of the HopeXchange model is that everyone has the right to the highest level of quality health care, embodying a true vision of equity.
She said the HopeXchange Medical Center is a state-of-the-art health care facility managed by the Christian Health Authority of Ghana (CHAG) that serves four million people across Ghana.
According to her, USAID has since 2013 provided $3.5 million to HopeXchange to, among other things, establish and equip its pathology laboratory for the women’s Cancer Center, support clinical and research programmes, and construct a maternal-child health center with a labor and delivery suite, neonatal and pediatric intensive care unitsand an adolescent clinic.
Mr. Dominic Osei Kofi, General Manager of HopeXchange receiving the Mobile Clinic Van expressed gratitude to the partnership of USAID/ASHA.
He said the HopeXchange Medical Center has a dedicated outreach team of clinicians that conduct routine outreach to communities, and that last year October 2023 to September 2024, the outreach team researched 12,517 people across 63 communities in the Ashanti and Bono East regions.
Mr. Osei Kofi expressed optimism that the Mobile Clinic Van would enable the outreach team to significantly expand its Community services and augment their outreach activities.
He revealed that Medical screening in rural and poor Communities has been part of their services even before the start of the hospital and now one of their core activities.
He said their robust and dedicated Outreach Team of clinicians reach out to communities within the Ashanti and Bono East regions with health education and medical screening at no cost to the people.
General Manager Osei Kofi indicated that about 20 persons identified with masses in their breasts during various outreaches received various interventions ranging from ultrasound and ICT scans, histopathological diagnosis to free surgery and that they returned home with renewed hope for life.
The General Manager re-affirmed that the Mobile Clinic would allow the Outreach Team to reach underserved and remote Communities nationwide, offering health education and medical screenings including specialized services.He said it will also provide essential free quality medical care to people who otherwise lack access, including children in need.
