The Australian High Commissioner, Andrew Barnes, has cut sod for a $60,000 modern therapy centre of excellence at Begoro in the Fanteakwa District of the Eastern Region.
The facility is expected to provide services to some 10,000 persons with disability in the District.
Over the past 35 years, the Salvation Army Community Rehabilitation Center has been providing out-patient services to children and adults with disability and deals with on-site integrated school for children with disability in the District.
Space, resources and funding have been a major challenge.
The Australian ambassador said a modern therapy centre for the health facility will be a critical intervention for the hospital management.
He said the Australian government’s disability strategy called for development for all from 2015 to 2020, adding that the strategy is to ensure that development activities and assistance to partner countries must have outcomes that are truly inclusive.
He hoped the government prioritises disability support efforts as well.
The Territorial Commander of the Salvation Army Church, Joseph Lukau, pointed out the new project fits into its mission of existence in communities .
The hospital administrator, Raymond Badu, called for the full implementation of the Disability Act 715.
Member of Parliament for the Fanteakwa North and South constituencies said the promise by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to increase disability support from 2.5 percent to 3 percent from the District Assembly Common Fund was in the right direction
The project is expected to be completed in six months.
The Centre is receiving human resource support from two occupational therapists from Australia and Scotland.
It has been 11 years after the Disability Bill was passed, but implementation efforts and political will have below par.
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