The Acting Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has donated essential medical equipment and medications to the War Memorial Hospital in Navrongo.
The donation forms part of the Ministry of Health’s intensified campaign to combat cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in the Northern, North East, Upper West, and Upper East regions.
During the presentation ceremony held on Friday, April 4, 2025, at the War Memorial Hospital, Professor Akoriyea stressed the importance of collaborative efforts involving healthcare providers, traditional leaders, the media, and opinion leaders to reduce CSM-related deaths.
He attributed the high fatality rate of meningitis to delays in seeking medical care and the inability of patients to afford prescribed medications.
“The ministry has come up with a plan to make donations to every region involved, ensuring no patient pays for meningitis medication,” Professor Akoriyea explained.
He also issued a stern warning to hospital staff, cautioning them against selling the donated drugs to private retailers and healthcare providers.
The donation, valued at GHC 220,000, includes an oxygen concentrator, CPAP machine, pulse oximeters, bedsheets, nose masks, surgical gowns, antibiotics, and other vital supplies.
Dr. Abraham Titigah, Medical Superintendent of the War Memorial Hospital, pledged to uphold the integrity of the donation through “stringent management and accountability.”
The Paramount Chief of Navrongo, Navro Pio Pe Aneakwoah Balinia Adda Asagpaare II, expressed deep appreciation for the support, encouraging hospital staff to make the best use of the items for the benefit of patients.
Samuel Kwabena Boakye-Boateng, the outgoing Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, described the Director-General’s visit as timely and impactful, underscoring the critical role of the donated medications in the fight against cerebrospinal meningitis.
