The Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF) has stepped up efforts to build nationwide support for its mandate by engaging Regional Ministers from across the country ahead of a series of regional stakeholder engagements designed to educate Ghanaians about the Trust Fund and expand access to life-saving healthcare for patients battling chronic diseases.
The high-level engagement, held at the Jubilee House, brought together the leadership of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and Regional Ministers to discuss the Trust Fund’s mission and the critical role regional administrations will play in ensuring its success.
Addressing the Regional Ministers, Administrator of GMTF, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku underscored the importance of their support in taking the message of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to every district and community, stressing that public awareness is essential to ensuring that eligible patients can benefit from the initiative.
She encouraged them to lead advocacy efforts within their respective regions by engaging traditional authorities, religious leaders, local government officials, health institutions, civil society organisations and the media to deepen public understanding of the Fund and encourage widespread public support.
The engagement forms part of preparations for nationwide regional stakeholder meetings that will introduce the Ghana Medical Trust Fund to communities across the country while explaining its mandate of providing financial assistance to Ghanaians suffering from chronic and life-threatening non-communicable diseases.
Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo described the Ghana Medical Trust Fund as one of President John Mahama’s most visionary social interventions, saying it reflects the President’s commitment to reducing the financial burden faced by thousands of Ghanaians living with non-communicable diseases.
She urged the Regional Ministers to champion the initiative in their respective regions and mobilise stakeholders to support the Trust Fund, emphasizing that the success of the programme would depend largely on public awareness and broad-based collaboration.
The Deputy Chief of Staff further added that the President has demonstrated remarkable foresight with this initiative as it has the potential to transform the lives of countless Ghanaians who are struggling to afford treatment for chronic illnesses.
Nana Oye Bampoe Addo told the Regional Ministers they all have a responsibility to ensure that every Ghanaian understands what the Trust Fund stands for and how it can change lives.
Deputy Minister for Health Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah who was also present at the meeting called on the Regional Ministers to throw their full support behind the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, noting that the initiative represents a significant step towards improving healthcare access for vulnerable patients.
She said government alone cannot achieve the Trust Fund’s objectives without the active participation of citizens, communities and institutions, urging Ghanaians to embrace the initiative and help spread awareness about its benefits.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund is preparing to embark on an aggressive stakeholder engagement campaign across the country in its quest to build partnerships and ensure that no eligible Ghanaian is denied life-saving treatment because of financial constraints.
The upcoming regional engagements are expected to bring together key stakeholders, including traditional leaders, faith-based organisations, healthcare providers, civil society organisations and the media, as the Trust Fund works to strengthen public understanding and support for what has become one of the government’s flagship interventions in the fight against non-communicable diseases.
