Ghana to Bring in 177 Cuban Doctors as The Strike Extends to Emergency Wards

Thousands of Cuban doctors and health workers are stationed in countries in Africa and Latin America under government-to-government contracts.

To help limit the damage from a crippling strike by medics over pay and training, Ghana has said it will bring in 177 new doctors from Cuba.

Some 2,800 public sector doctors began withdrawing services to out-patient departments early this month before extending the strike to emergency wards.

Ghana Suspends Ebola Vaccine Trial as Locals Complain of Being Used as 'Guinea Pigs'
The Ghanians complained that the Ebola vaccine trial was unnecessary and they would be grateful if vaccines for malaria, cholera and HIV were developed.

"We were in the process of bringing in 177 doctors and this process is ongoing," Ghana's Health Minister Alex Segbefia told a news conference.

"As we work to protect lives and restore normalcy, we are also retaining all the Cuban doctors who have completed their rotation and were programmed to leave for Cuba any time soon."

Thousands of Cuban doctors and health workers are stationed in countries in Africa and Latin America under government-to-government contracts that have become an important source of hard currency as well as diplomatic good will.

Through Awareness Programs, HIV/AIDS Will be Eliminated in Ghana by 2030: AFP and UNAIDS
Most Ghanaians living in rural areas don’t like using condoms, some don’t want to know their HIV status and others have multiple sex partners.

"We have a long standing arrangement with Cuba and other countries where doctors from these countries are brought in every year to augment the numbers of doctors we have in Ghana to help in healthcare delivery," Segbefia said.

The minister added that some of the new doctors would be deployed to specialist teaching hospitals where the strike "is felt more".

Apollo Hospitals Group Signs MoU With Ghana to Develop Tertiary Healthcare
Healthcare major Apollo Hospitals Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ghana's health ministry to develop tertiary healthcare services in the African nation.

The striking doctors are demanding housing, clothing and fuel allowances for senior staff, as well as company cars.

They also want higher overtime pay, free post-graduate medical education, better pensions and free foreign healthcare when the treatment is not available in Ghana.

Jobless Ghana's Youth Turn to Selling Blood
Eric Bimpong has a money-making proposition to Ghana's legions of jobless young men: sell your blood.

Source-AFP