The Ministry of Health has introduced a new set of medical kits, including distinctive red backpacks, to support community health nurses under the Free Primary Health Care programme.
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, told Joy News that the backpacks are designed to improve visibility and ensure nurses are better equipped to deliver services at the community level.
“We have a red backpack that says Free Primary Healthcare. Inside, we have a scale, a blood pressure monitor, a glucometer, a flashlight, and even a raincoat. These are basic tools for the community health nurse,” she explained.
She said the initiative will enable nurses to detect conditions such as hypertension and diabetes earlier, helping to ease pressure on referral hospitals.
“Early detection is good for everyone. It will decrease the backlog and the long lines in our referral hospitals,” she added.
Dr. Ayensu-Danquah also addressed security concerns, noting that nurses will carry identification cards and be introduced to community leaders before deployment.
She stressed that community health nursing is already an established part of Ghana’s health system, with the new equipment serving to strengthen and support their work.
The Free Primary Health Care programme, launched on April 15, is currently being piloted in 150 districts, with health kiosks also being installed in public spaces such as markets and lorry stations.