NGOs in health sector launch strategic document

Accra, July 31, GNA - The World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative in Ghana, Dr Melville George on Thursday said although the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) was indispensable in health care delivery, the activities of some of these organisations had lately been called into question.

Dr George said there have been criticisms that some of these organisations went to register as NGOs just to acquire funds from donors.

He was speaking at the launch of a document containing a five-year plan of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health in Accra.

He said fake NGOs normally did not have a clear-cut definition of roles, observing that there were some small organizations that were rendering invaluable services in under-served areas and it was necessary to identify such groups and to resource them.

Dr George said there was evidence that NGOs, especially in the rural areas, had contributed to some priority areas in health service resulting in improved life expectancy and the reduction of mortality and morbidity rates.

Dr Koma Jehu-Appiah, Chairman of the Coalition, said the establishment of the organization provided an avenue for improving upon the health of Ghanaians.

He said the Coalition had over a hundred organisations working in the health sector and the document would serve as a working document to guide the affairs and activities of members.

Madam Kate Abban, a Veteran Writer and Editor of "Obaa Sima," who performed the launch, urged NGOs to make use of the document.