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More health facilities for easy access now number 2,341
Accra, March 4, Ghanadot/GNA –
Government’s effort to ensure that the right of the
individual to an easily accessible, equitable and
comprehensive health care of the highest quality has been
given impetus with the cataloging of health facilities in
the country.
According to a list of health facilities published in the
“Ghana 2008 Health Directory,” made available to Ghana News
Agency in Accra on Tuesday, there are 2,341 health
facilities; 13 drug manufacturing companies and eleven
international pharmaceutical companies with local
representatives.
The list indicates there are 632 pharmaceuticals retail
shops and 133 wholesale facilities across the country.
Explaining the rationale for the publication of the “Ghana
2008 Health Directory,” Mr Dominic Oduro-Antwi, Chief
Executive Officer of the Design House Project Limited,
publishers, told the GNA that it sought to enhance access to
health facilities.
He said the Ghana 2008 Health Directory also highlighted
Ghana’s Health Services, particularly the Code of Ethics –
patient’s rights and responsibilities; the National Drugs
Policy; Food and Drugs Boards regulations; Health Insurance
operations and the Pharmacy Council.
Other issues included in the Health Directory are hospitals
and clinics in Ghana; Institutions and Disciplines
accredited; short articles on natural cocoa powder,
syphilis, tetanus, breast cancer, and healthy dieting,
especially the importance of breakfast.
It also enlightened the public on the benefits derived from
eating fruits, chocolate and the importance of sleep, as
well as prevention of back injury, 76 ways that sugar could
ruin your health and breastfeeding promotion regulations.
In his contribution, Mr Frank Asante, Research and
Development Manager of the Cocoa Processing Company
described natural cocoa powder as a functional food that was
medicinal.
Mr Asante told the GNA that, even though natural cocoa
powder was rich in magnesium, flavanols, theobromine, and
dietary fibre, it should be consumed regularly for its
numerous benefits only.
He cautioned that it should not be substituted for
prescribed drugs without a medical doctor’s consent as it
did not contain appropriate levels of all the other
nutrients needed for the well-functioning of the human
being.
“It is therefore recommended that you take cocoa powder,
like all functional foods as an important part of an overall
healthful lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and
physical activity,” Mr Asante stated.
The drug manufacturing companies mentioned are; Ayrton
Drugs, Dannex Limited, Letap Pharmaceuticals Limited, M & G
Pharmaceuticals, Midland Chemists, Netherlands African
Company Limited, and Olla Medicine Production.
The rest are, P.Z. Industries Ghana Limited, Phyto-riker
Pharmaceutical Limited, Sharp Pharmaceuticals, Starwin
Products Limited, Amponsah-Effah Pharmaceuticals and
Intravenous Infusions Limited.
The International Pharmaceutical Companies with local
representatives are; Astra Zeneca, Glaxosmithkline, Roche,
Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi Aventis, Schering Plough,
Eli-Lily, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer and Janssen-Cilag.
GNA
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