Oti Region needs 3,592 additional health staff to operate optimally – Dr Amo-Kodieh

The Oti Regional Health Directorate requires an additional 3,592 health personnel of the appropriate professional mix to enable health facilities across the Region to operate optimally, Dr Kofi Amo-Kodieh, Oti Regional Director of Health Services, has disclosed.

He said the staffing gap remained one of the major challenges affecting effective healthcare delivery in the Region, particularly as the demand for health services continued to grow.

Dr Amo-Kodieh disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview.

He explained that additional personnel were required across various professional categories to strengthen the capacity of health facilities, improve service delivery, and ensure that clients received timely and quality care.

According to him, addressing the human resource gap would reduce pressure on existing health workers, improve efficiency, and enhance the overall quality of healthcare delivery in the Region.

He, however, stressed that the challenge was not merely about increasing the number of health workers but ensuring the availability of the right mix of professionals at health facilities to meet specific service demands.

Dr Amo-Kodieh therefore appealed to the Government, relevant ministries and agencies, development partners and other stakeholders to support the Region in addressing its human resource needs.

He said adequate staffing was essential to sustaining the gains made in maternal and child health, disease prevention and control, as well as other health interventions being implemented across the Region.

The Regional Director also called for improved logistics, infrastructure and accommodation for health personnel, saying the availability of adequate staff must be complemented by the necessary working environment and resources.

He identified the need for additional motorbikes, boats and service vehicles to support supervision, outreach activities and healthcare delivery, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.

Dr Amo-Kodieh said the Directorate remained committed to improving health outcomes and ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare services for residents across the Region.

He urged traditional authorities, civil society organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to continue collaborating with the Ghana Health Service to address the Region's critical healthcare needs.

He said a coordinated approach to human resources, logistics, and infrastructure would be crucial to strengthening the health system and improving healthcare outcomes in the Oti Region.

GNA