Evangelische Bank eG
IBAN: DE85 5206 0410 0000 0001 24
BIC: GENODEF1EK1
Ghana: Health Care
Ghana: Health Care
Many people in Ghana cannot afford a doctor. The Presbyterian Church offers a “Poor and Sick Fund” to help these people receive medical treatment free of charge.
Although Ghana launched a national health insurance scheme in 2005, there are still many citizens who are uninsured. At the same time, the health insurance does not cover all costs. Patients have to pay for medication and most treatments themselves. Additional costs such as ambulance transport are not covered either. Luckily, the “Poor and Sick Fund” of the Presbyterian Church in Ghana (PCG) provides financial support to these people by assuming costs which patients are unable to pay for themselves. The church understands its Christian mission in a very practical way. Proclaiming the Good News also means helping people in their daily needs – with medical care, education and preventive treatments.
More health care in rural areas
The health insurance’s annual contribution is only twelve euros, but many people in rural areas still have no access to the health care system. PCG health care services include five hospitals, 27 health stations, nine primary health care facilities and two nursing schools. In rural areas, PCG health care services are often the only possibility for people to receive medical care and treatment. This is where the small health care stations provide a very important service.
Ghana
28.3 million inhabitants, of which 20% have no health insurance
Model hospitals in Bawku and Agogo
One of the hospitals, the Bawku Hospital, is located in the border triangle of Ghana, Togo and Burkina Faso. It treats emergencies from the whole region as well as about 500 outpatients a day at the hospital itself and at the surrounding clinics. The “Poor and Sick Fund” also helps people from neighbouring countries that do not pay insurance in Ghana.
“Without the Poor and Sick Fund, many people here would even have to go without vitally needed treatment.”
Roger Wegurih, hospital pastor
The Agogo Spital is the model project of the Presbyterian health care services. The hospital has about 250 beds where doctors treat about 13,000 inpatients and 115,000 outpatients a year. Five wards offer help to the sick so that they can return to health.
Agogo is also involved in an international project to develop a vaccination against malaria. Paediatrician Dr Theresa Rettig, who works in the children’s ward there, says, “This facility fully supports those who are less favoured.
Project goals
Many Ghanaians are almost unable to pay for doctor’s fees. Despite the existence of a state health insurance, not all citizens are insured. The poor rural inhabitants especially have no extensive access to the health care system. The Poor and Sick Fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ghana (PCG) is trying to close this gap. The church fund takes over the costs which patients are unable to pay themselves. The PCG concentrates its own health care services in rural areas. In many cases, they are the only possibility for the rural population to receive medical care.
Project work
The Presbyterian Church in Ghana (PCG) assumes the needed health care work and support in rural regions. With the Poor and Sick Fund, it supports the citizens of Ghana by taking over their doctor’s fees. In addition, the PCG runs five district hospitals, 27 health stations, nine basic health care services and two nursing schools. These include the Bawku Hospital located in the border triangle of Ghana, Togo and Burkina Faso, and the Agogo Spital, a model project of the Presbyterian health care services with a total of 250 beds.
Project partner
The Presbyterian Church in Ghana (PCG) is the oldest Christian church in Ghana. It originated in 1828 from the world of the Basel Mission. In 1926, it became independent and adopted its present name. It has about 870,000 members. The PCG runs educational institutions from kindergartens and primary schools through to secondary schools and vocational schools and it sponsors four hospitals, several regional clinics and mobile basic health care services. The EMS supports the PCG mainly development programmes in education and health care.
We are pleased to hear that you are interested in this project. If you have any general questions, please use the contact form below. We are also happy to help you personally if you have any questions or require further information – by phone or by E-mail.
More Projects
