GTZ supports health package for workers

THE German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) is collaborating with six private companies to implement a three-year programme that would enhance the welfare of workers.
The companies are Aqua Vitens Rand Limited/Ghana Water Company, Japan Motors Trading Company Limited, Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, Accra Brewery Limited, Superlock Technologies Limited and UT Group Ghana Limited.
Dubbed the Employee Well-being Programme (EWP), it is to sustain and improve the health, social and financial status of employees, their core families and members of the immediate communities where the companies operate.
Other objectives of the initiative is to enhance the capacity of state institutions such as the ministries of Health; Employment and Social Welfare; and Roads and Transport.
During a media launch of the programme in Accra yesterday, the Team Leader of the GTZ Regional Co-ordination Unit for HIV and Tuberculosis (GTZ-ReCHT), Dr Holger Till, said the companies were providing a total of €2 million, the Government of Ghana (GoG) was offering support worth €240,000 and the GTZ was providing €1.5 million in cash and in kind.
Present at the launch were representatives of the companies and the ministries involved, as well as officials of some health-related organisations and agencies.
Dr Till said the disease prevention package of the programme involved counselling and testing for HIV, TB, Hepatitis B, Meningitis, hypertension, cholesterol, glucose, breast cancer, cervical cancer and general health check, among others.
In his remarks, the Head of Co-operation at the German Embassy, Ms Harriet Ludwig, said Ghanaians workers needed intervention such as the one being introduced under the EWP to sustain the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
She said it was important for workplaces to have such programmes to take care of employees and their dependants holistically since well-being involved more than just health care.
Ms Ludwig encouraged the companies involved to do well to sustain the EWP, which is a pilot programme of the GTZ, adding that if the country was able to perform well, other countries would learn from it.
The chairperson for the event, Dr Edith Tetteh, a Commissioner of the National Development Planning Commission (NPDC), commended GTZ for the initiative.
She also expressed the hope that the companies would endeavour to continue with the programme after the three-year expiry period.