The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the City of Savannah in the United States have agreed to roll out a major medical outreach programme in Ga Mashie early next year as part of efforts to expand access to healthcare for residents and deepen the long-standing sister-city relationship between the two cities.

Under the arrangement, the outreach is expected to screen and treat approximately 3,000 patients, as well as provide a full range of medical services, including consultations, medication, dental care, eye care, and paediatric support.

Details of the initiative, which forms part of the health cooperation component of the sister-city relations between Accra and Savannah, emerged on Wednesday when the Greater Savannah Ghana Alliance Mission of Mercy,  a 37-member medical mission team from Savannah called on the Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey.

Speaking during the engagement, the Mayor of Accra, who welcomed the delegation, said genuine support was demonstrated through decisive action and assured the team of his commitment to align with their philanthropic activities.

He assured that the AMA was fully committed to supporting its successful implementation, describing the initiative as a practical demonstration of the sister-city partnership between Accra and Savannah.

Dr Seth Borquaye, leader of the delegation said the current team had been operating for about 10 years and had grown significantly from an initial group of about eight members to between 40 and 45 volunteers.

According to him, the team first undertook surgical work at the Tema General Hospital but later changed its focus to community-based outreach after members expressed greater interest in treating chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension in villages and underserved communities.

He said the team was not only in Ghana to carry out its medical mission but also to undertake philanthropic activities that would directly benefit local communities.

He said the team comprised a wide range of specialists, including eye doctors, dentists and paediatricians, and stressed that the outreach went beyond routine screening because patients were examined, treated and given medication rather than simply being referred elsewhere

The Metro Health Director, Dr. Louisa Ademki Matey said the Ghana Health Service was working toward achieving 80 percent Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, adding that the introduction of free primary healthcare in Ghana was part of efforts to ensure that no one was denied access to care because of an inability to pay.

She said the planned outreach aligned strongly with that national objective because it would bring free services directly to people in their communities.

She particularly welcomed the emphasis on dental care, noting that many people feared visiting the dentist because of the cost.

The team later took a walk through the historic Kinbu Gardens located at the Accra City Hall.