By Seraphine Nyuiemedi
The Volta Region has maintained a zero malaria mortality rate for the second consecutive year with a reduction in the percentage of mother-to-child HIV transmission from 4.2 percent to 2.4 percent in the year under review.
The Maternal Mortality Ratio in the region has also decreased from 103 to 82 deaths per 100,000 live births. Dr. Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, Acting Volta Regional Director of Health Services, attributed the accomplishments to the region’s health workers’ commitment and hard work to ensure quality healthcare delivery.
He disclosed this at the opening of the Volta Regional Health Sector 2022 Annual Performance Review Conference in Ho.
The two-day Regional conference which is on the theme: “Achieving Universal Health Coverage through Improved Access to Quality Primary Health Care: The Role of Stakeholders,” seeks to sharpen the skills and knowledge of participants on various health topics, celebrate its achievements and update them on current challenges and develop comprehensive plans and strategies to address them.
The Acting Volta Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Senanu Kwesi Djokoto said stillbirth rate has decreased from 9.8 to 8.8 per 100 live births within the same period. He said the Regional Health Directorate will work tirelessly to increase access to quality essential health care and population-based services for all by 2030.
“The goal of this Plan is to Increase access to quality essential health care and population-based services for all by 2030 through the following objectives:
1. Universal access to better and efficiently managed quality healthcare services
2. Reduce avoidable maternal, adolescent and child deaths and disabilities
3. Increase access to responsive clinical and public health emergency services.
By the end of the review, we would be better conditioned and inspired by the lessons that would have been learned as well as the comforting presence and solidarity of our distinguished guests and stakeholders” he said
Dr. Senanu Kwesi Djokoto commended the various stakeholders, including the Korea Foundation for International Health (KOFIH), USAID, PATH, WHO, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), JHPEIGO, UNICEF, Global Communities, MTN Foundation, and many multi-national agencies, for their support over the years.
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye, said some measures put in place by the Service have helped in the early detection and containment of emerging diseases in the country. He urged the public to adhere to health protocols to avoid easy transmission of communicable diseases.
A lecturer at the University of Health, and Allied Sciences, Prof. Fred Binka presenting on the theme said Universal Health Coverage can only be attained through primary health care in the areas of sanitation, healthy diets, access to safe water among others.
The Volta Regional Minister Dr Archibald Letsa urged the Ghana Health Service to adopt measures to address the refusal of health workers to accept postings to deprived areas where their services are most needed.
“On the human resource front, it is heartwarming to note that in spite of the pandemic-imposed challenges facing the nation, the government has not shirked its responsibility of recruiting health professionals to ensure that strategic health goals including Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which happens to be the theme for this year’s review conference, are attained.
Nevertheless, the problem of inequitable distribution of health personnel is still lingering, primarily as a result of the refusal of health professionals to accept postings to deprived areas where their services are most needed. Let me, therefore, use this occasion to urge the Ghana Health Service to adopt pragmatic measures to address this conundrum and reduce the inequality gaps in access to quality health services” he said.
Some deserving staff were awarded citations for their commitment and hard work over the period. Members of the reconstituted Volta Regional Health Directorate Committee was also inaugurated and sworn-in.