Northern Region receives health equipment to boost healthcare delivery

As part of efforts to ensure quality health service delivery, the government, through the Ministry of Health, has procured medical equipment for the Northern Region.

Inspecting the equipment at the Regional Medical Stores in Tamale on Friday, the Regional Minister, Mr Ali Adolf John, expressed appreciation to the government, saying it is a significant move towards boosting health care delivery in the region.

He said the equipment will be more useful in the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds and other frontline health facilities.

The Minister said the equipment is particularly important to CHPS compounds and other primary healthcare facilities because they serve as the first point of contact for many residents, especially those in rural and underserved communities.

These supplies, which aim at strengthening health care delivery across the region, came from the Mahama Care initiative and the Global Fund.

He said equipping health facilities is a way of empowering health professionals to provide timely and effective services, saying this will reduce unnecessary referrals and improve access to quality health care for people in rural areas.

Mr Adolf further indicated that geographical location should not be a barrier to quality health care delivery, adding that residents of rural communities equally deserve good health care just as their counterparts in the urban areas.

To this end, he urged the Regional Health Directorate to ensure that the equipment was distributed equitably, based on the specific needs of beneficiary facilities.

He called for accountability in the management and utilisation of the equipment, urging the custodians to take good care of them.

To ensure this, the minister entreated the health authorities to put mechanisms in place to track the equipment from the Regional Medical Stores to the various beneficiary facilities.

He touched on maintenance culture, saying the equipment's sustainability will depend on proper care and regular maintenance.

The minister singled out the Northern Regional Director of Health Services, Mr Chrysantus Kubio, for commendation, saying he and his team did well in coordinating the receipt and management of the equipment.

He also urged them to continue working closely with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Health Directorates to identify and address critical gaps in healthcare delivery.

To the Metropolitan Municipal and District Assemblies, he urged them to complement government’s efforts by helping health facilities in their respective jurisdictions, particularly in the provision of basic infrastructure, water, sanitation, electricity and other essential requirements.

He assured the Regional Health Directorate of the continued support of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC), saying the Council would collaborate with MMDAs, development partners, traditional authorities and other stakeholders to improve healthcare delivery across the region.