Millennium Development Goals achievable – DG of GHS
Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyirah, Director General of Ghana Health Services (GHS) has noted that notwithstanding the challenges Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) four, five and six are posing they are achievable through commitment and handwork.
He said adequate resourcing of health facilities to enable the personnel to perform creditably to achieve the MDGs has been captured by the Service through a quarterly performance league table among medical centres nationwide.
Dr Appiah- Denkyirah who made the observation in an interview with Ghana News Agency Accra said the performance league table would also whip up the enthusiasm of the health personnel to put up their best.
The MDGs four, five and six, which are connected with child and maternal mortality, family health and malaria have over the years thwarted the orderly progress of health care.
The health challenges are therefore casting doubts as to whether Ghana could achieve the MDGs.
The Director General who was allaying the fears of the “doubting Thomases” said adequate resources coupled with the performance league table could buoy up the personnel to go the extra mile in working towards the achievement of the goals.
The initial league table facilities were made up of; Community-based Health Planning Services (CHPS), Sub-district and district facilities, hospitals and private facilities.
Achimota Hospital has been adjudged the best in the Greater Accra Region, Nsawam Hospital in the Eastern Region, Bekwai Hospital in the Ashanti Region, St Francis Xavier Hospital in Assin Fosu in the Central Region and Dixcove Ahanta West Hospital in the Western Region.
The rest are; Peki Hospital in the Volta Region, Kintampo Hospital in the Brong-Ahafo Region, Bole Hospital in the Northern Region, Sandema Hospital in the Upper East Region and the Nadowli Hospital in the Upper West Region.
The first and second runner-ups in the same category are; Dangbe East Hospital and Dangme West in the Greater Accra Region, Attibie and Asamankese hospitals in the Eastern Region, Tafo and Agogo Presby Hospitals in the Ashanti Region, Swedru and Cape Coast Metro in the Central Region and Enchi and Tarkwa hospitals in the Western Region.
The other runner-ups are; Hohoe and St Anthony Catholic Hospitals in the Volta Region, St John of God Hospital and Yeji Mateas Hospital in Brong- Ahafo Region, Yendi and Walewale hospitals in the Northern Region, Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, Navrongo Hospital in the Upper East Region and Jirapa, Tumu hospitals in the Upper West Region.
In the CHPS facilities; Okyerekomfo in Ga West is the best in Greater Accra, Amanase at Suhum in the Eastern Region, Nyamebekyere CHPS in the Ashanti, Awisem CHPS in the Central Region, Kwesikrom CHPS in the Western Region, Agoufie CHPS in the Volta Region and ,Bantama CHPS in the Brong- Ahafo Region.
The rest are Gbangboapong in the Northern Region, Goriko/Awaredone CHPS in the Upper East Region and Kokoligu CHPS in the Upper West Region.
Explaining the criteria used in the selection, Dr Appiah-Denkyira said the attitude of personnel towards pregnant women, children under five years, regular outreach programmes in the communities, immunisation coverage, antenatal care, family planning and quarterly community durbars were assessed.
He said the GHS also assessed the engagement of youth groups in health issues, traditional authorities and the general coordination with other stakeholders in terms of meetings, drawing of synergies, resource mobilisation and the planning of the facilities.
The Director General appealed to stakeholders to play their roles responsibly to enhance the achievement of the MDGs.
Source: GNA