The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improve the general health infrastructure and address the luck of healthcare practitioners in the Northern part of the country to propel the attainment of universal health coverage by 2030 through the Ghana Priority Health Infrastructure Projects known as Agenda 111.
He indicated that the government was putting up a Psychiatric Hospital at Tugu Yapala located on the Yendi-Tamale highway to improve mental healthcare in the region while the site had also been cleared for the construction of a maternity block complex at the Northern Regional Hospital.
“Nine of the districts, namely: Mion, Nanton, Kumbungu, Nanumba South, Saboba, Sagnarigu, Kpandai, Savelugu, and Karaga are geared toward improved health service delivery. Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) Oxygen generating plant has been established at the Tamale West Hospital, an Oxus Oxygen Generator installed at the Gushegu Municipal Hospital, and new x-ray equipment and brand-new Ultrasound Machine installed at Tamale West Hospital.”
Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu, Northern Regional Minister
The Northern Regional Minister, in his speech, complained about doctor-to-patient ratio in the region, which according to him stood at 1: 2277 and that it is not good for quality healthcare delivery.
He added that these developments are part of a broader effort to enhance healthcare delivery, which will indirectly help in reducing the doctor-to-patient ratio by improving access to healthcare services and facilities.
Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu indicated that by focusing on the construction of new healthcare facilities and the provision of essential medical equipment, Agenda 111 aims to increase the availability of healthcare services in the region.
This will not only improve the quality of healthcare delivery but also help in reducing the doctor-to-patient ratio, making healthcare more accessible and efficient for the population.
He gave this affirmation at the performance review of the Ghana Health Service with stakeholders that was held in Tamale.
According to Alhaji Alhassan Shaibu, the mandate of the Regional Coordinating Council was to ensure the optimum welfare of the people in the region and prioritize issues that concern health and well-being.
The Northern Regional Minister emphasized the importance of the network of practice as a means to achieve universal health coverage within the shortest possible time. He urged stakeholders to contribute varied expert perspectives, opinions, and views on effective ways of mobilizing resources towards achieving universal health coverage by 2030.
The Minister indicated that the provision of essential services across all levels of service delivery points was usually characterized by large consumption of medical supplies for both clients and healthcare providers.
Due to this, the fast consumption of these supplies tends to rapidly deplete stock levels and requires quick replacement and re-stocking to make the health system very responsive to the health needs of the citizenry, he added.
He however acknowledged the Regional Director of Health Service, Dr Abdulai Abukari, and his team for the hard work and commitment that have led to quality healthcare delivery in the region.
Support from International Partners
The government’s efforts to improve health infrastructure and service delivery are supported by international partners, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which has been actively involved in supporting Ghana’s health priorities, including the ongoing response to COVID-19, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health, nutrition, malaria, HIV/AIDS, health system strengthening, water, sanitation, and hygiene, and social protection.
The contributions by USAID and other international partners are crucial in addressing the health challenges Ghana faces. The partnerships aim to continue supporting Ghana’s health priorities, focusing on improving access to quality healthcare services, strengthening health systems, and addressing social determinants of health.
The future of these partnerships will likely involve sustained support for ongoing health challenges, including the need for continued vaccination efforts, improvements in health infrastructure, and the development of sustainable health policies and programs.
The Northern Regional Minister’s reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to Agenda 111 highlights the importance of improving health infrastructure and service delivery in Ghana, with the goal of achieving universal health coverage by 2030. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance healthcare delivery across the country, supported by both domestic and international partners.
