Volta Region places last on health league table

The Volta Region has recorded the lowest performance in the 2016 national health league table for the Ghana Health Service.       

In a performance feedback report made available to the Ghana News Agency, the Region was placed on the least range of the “Performance Gauge” (PG) scale, with its performance in the period under review described as “unsatisfactory,” placing 10th on the league table.    

Across some 25 health indicators, the Region topped none and performed poorly in maternal health service delivery areas of antenatal and skilled delivery.

Its record in institutional mortality rate, infant and under five mortality rates were worst than the national target. 

Teenage pregnancy was high at 15.2 per cent while only 44 per cent of HIV positive pregnant women received protection for the unborn babies against the disease.  

Though the Region reported only 27 cholera cases and was marginally successful in reducing deaths among under fives treated for malaria, the overall picture was described as “unsatisfactory.”  

Upper East Region came first, followed by Upper West, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Western, Greater Accra, Northern and Central regions, in that order.  

Some senior health staff attributed the poor performance of the Region to “poor leadership”.        

“It is from the leadership. It is as if the leaders do not care about the Region,” a Director told the GNA.       

In a related development, the Region scored the lowest points on the 2016 District League Table with poor records in sanitation, health, rural water, education, security and governance.       

Though its average score went up by a percentage to 54 per cent in 2016 as compared to 2015, it was ranked 10th-last on the Regional League Table by the Centre for Democratic Development.

Source: GNA