Ban on riding motor bikes at Bawku affecting health delivery

January 20, 2011 Bawku (UE), Jan. 20, GNA - Dr Thomas Afful-Mensah, the Bawku Municipal Health Director, has called for an immediate lift of the ban on motor riding for male health workers in the Municipality because it is affecting health delivery.

Dr Afful-Mensah noted that most of the health workers in the Municipality were men, who could not access remote areas where cars could not go to due to the ban.

The Medical Director said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Wednesday at Bawku and noted that even though the Health Directorate had enough logistics such as transport, drugs and non-drug items, there was shortage of health personnel including midwives and State registered nurses.

He therefore appealed to the Ministry of the Interior, the Regional Security Council (RESEC) and the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC), to reconsider the decision and lift the ban for health workers.

Dr Afful-Mensah indicated that about 29 Community Health Nurses have been sent to work in the 13 functioning Community Heath Planning Services (CHPS) compounds in the Municipality but their movements had been curtailed by the ban.

He further said that there were no Medical Assistants in most of the health facilities and that the trend was worsening health delivery in the area.

Dr Afful-Mensah indicated that in spite of these challenges confronting the Directorate, health delivery was the best this year compared to previous years and commended health workers in the Municipality for their commitment and dedication to work.

GNA