The Ghana Health Service has called for partnership with the private sector to promote healthy living among Ghanaians, amidst concerns about underperformance in key health areas.
At the annual meeting of the National Inter-agency Coordination Committee for Health Promotion, the acting Director of health promotion, Mabel Asafo Kissiwah highlighted crucial health areas that need urgent attention.
Mrs. Mabel Asafo indicated that areas including malaria, “WASH” (water, sanitation, and health), Maternal and Child Health, sexual reproductive health, and infectious diseases including COVID-19 and other emerging and reemerging diseases are the main concerns to the country’s health sector.
“…a lot of teenage pregnancies are being recorded and other things, sexual STIs are all being recorded elsewhere. We are looking at some of these indicators to build it up, to make sure that they get better within the health sector. These are areas that is of concern to the Ghana Health Service.”
Mrs. Mabel Asafo Kissiwah
Mrs. Marbel Asafo emphasized the need for partnership with the private sector to achieve sustainability in promoting healthy behaviors. Mrs. Mabel Asafo further highlighted the need and importance of bringing in the private sector to promote healthy living.
Mrs. Mabel Asafo addressed that, the health sector started earlier in promoting hygiene, however, they did not engage the private sector much, and so because of that they did not succeed.
She further pointed out that going forward, it is very important that the private sector comes on board to support its works in addressing keys health issues.
Professor Elsie Kaufmann on Health Sector Partnership
Moreover, the chairperson of the National Inter-agency Coordination Committee for Health Promotion, Professor Elsie Kaufmann reiterated the need for partnership between the private sector and government.
She lamented over the inadequate collaboration and partnership between the government and key stakeholders in the health sector.
Professor Kaufmann pointed out that even though there have been a lot of activities undertaken by different stakeholders in the country, there is very little coordination, undermining the efficiency of results.
She emphasized that if collaboration and coordination are effectively prioritized, it will lead to significant results in addressing the challenges facing the country’s health sector.
“One key thing that we also intend to do, which we have started, is to bring in the private sector. It’s one of the key activities we are supposed to do. Bring in the private sector to work with the Ghana Health Service and the Health Promotion Division to propagate the strategy that we have in place.”
Professor Elsie Kaufmann
Additionally, Professor Elsie Kaufmann indicated that about seven private sector organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding with the ICC-HP to help promote healthy living in the country.
This partnership, she noted aims to ensure a harmonious message which is presented to the Ghanaian public and to make the best use of scarce resources.
“We need to invest in our health, and we need to do it together. We need to work with the private sector, civil society, and government to achieve our health goals, Professor Kaufmann stated.
She emphasized that partnership between the Ghana Health Service and the private sector is a step in the right direction towards promoting healthy living in Ghana.
By working together, Professor believe they can achieve better results and improve the health outcomes of Ghanaians.
