Insecurity a major problem in quality healthcare delivery - Director

Katani (NR), Nov. 29, GNA - Madam Catherine Asangalisa, Gushiegu District Director of Health Services (DDHS) on Tuesday said insecurity was one major problem facing quality healthcare delivery within the Gushiegu and Karaga districts.

She said the problem of insecurity had resulted in low performance in healthcare delivery in the district since health personnel were afraid of their lives to ride on motorbikes to the remote areas for outreach services and called on the Assembly to tackle the problem to reverse the trend.

Madam Asangalisa was speaking at the launching of the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) in the district at Katani.

The CHPS is the brainchild of the Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRC) in the Kassena Nankana District of the Upper East Region to give door-to-door healthcare delivery to the people irrespective of their geographical area.

After its successful implementation in Navrongo, the component was extended to the Nkwanta district in the Volta region and was now operational in almost all the districts in the Northern Region, with support of the Ghana Health Service, the District Assemblies and some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

Madam Asangalisa expressed appreciation to the assembly for providing accommodation for health personnel in the district saying, "The district should consider the insecurity nature of the staff and their equipment to ensure that they stay and work." She appealed to the assembly to sponsor qualified but needy students to health institutions and bonded to return to serve the district after completion of their training to solve the perennial shortage of health personnel within the district.

Madam Asangalisa stressed the need to improve health infrastructure and advised the people to practice good hygiene in order not to contract cholera currently prevalent in the country. Mr. Mahama Abukari, Gushiegu District Chief Executive in a speech read on his behalf lauded the implementation of the programme and pledged the assembly's preparedness to assist health personnel to enhance quality healthcare delivery.

He said health service delivery within the rural areas was appalling and with the implementation of CHPS in Katani would relieve the people of some health problems and asked the resident health personnel not to hesitate to contact the assembly for assistance. 29 Nov.05