Ghana Health Service to focus on reducing mortality – DG

Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, Director General of the Ghana Health Service, has said that the focus of his administration was to work effectively towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) four and five, which address issues of maternal and child mortality,

Dr Appiah-Denkyira said the country must not experience institutional maternal deaths anymore adding, “all pregnant women must survive, all children should survive” and called on health practitioners to give prompt attention and quality health care to mothers.

He said this when interacting with staff of the Northern Regional Health Directorate in Tamale on Tuesday to learn about their challenges and share with them new directions of the GHS to improve health care delivery.

Dr Appiah-Denkyira called on staff to double up their efforts to ensure the attainment of the MDGs.

Maternal and child mortality cases have been reducing steadily but the rate of reduction is slower than targeted.

For instance, mid-year 2013, the Northern Region recorded 51 maternal mortality cases compared to over 110 cases it recorded in 2012.

He announced that a performance management system would be instituted where awards would be given to best performing individuals and institutions within the GHS.

Dr Akwasi Twumasi, Northern Regional Director of GHS, spoke about the challenges facing the Service in the Region which included inadequate staff, bad roads, which made administration of the region difficult.

Dr Twumasi said out of 10 doctors posted to the Region last year, only one had reported.

He said despite the challenges, staff had been doing their best to deliver quality health care to the people.

Source: GNA