ORIO: Netherlands to support TB Case Detection in Ghana
A grant arrangement for the implementation phase of the TB Case Detection Project is signed, on the 1st of February, between the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr. Gerard Duijfjes.
The Grant Arrangement with a total budget of €21.0 million is partly provided for by the Netherlands Government who contributes 35% of the total budget (€7.5 million) with a grant from the ORIO programme.
Tuberculosis remains a major health threat in Ghana. Although the success rate of treatment in Ghana is very high with 84%, TB Case Detection (all new cases) is very low and according to a WHO report of 2010 reached only 31% in 2007, meaning that in Ghana 69% of all TB cases are not detected and thus not treated. The ORIO supported ''Accelerating TB Case Detection in Ghana'' project is to boost the TB Case Detection rate and to enhance the diagnostic capacity of the primary health care sector amongst others through e-health infrastructure.
The project consists of the fully integrated delivery and installation of various direct digital Chest X-ray systems including ICT facilities such as digital image data bases with back-up facilities, provisions for computer aided image reading software, PACS and remote image reading capability, the delivery of microscopes and laboratory equipment and the operation of all equipment by skilled health workers. The project will fall under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Services and is closely linked to other TB related programmes supported by the Global Fund and WHO.
This is the first ORIO grant agreement that is signed for the implementation and exploitation phase. There are currently six other ORIO projects in the development phase ongoing in Ghana in water, health and transport with an estimated total grant amount of €84.0 million. ORIO is a public infrastructure programme financed by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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