Kumasi, June 5, GNA – The Ghana Health Service (GHS) Council has inaugurated a nine-member Ashanti Regional Health Committee with a call on members to support the Health Directorate in community mobilisation towards success in all interventions.
The Committee, chaired by Barima Sarfo Tweneboa Kodua, the Kumawumanhene, was made up of representatives from the clergy, Muslim leaders, traditional authorities, and the Regional Coordinating Council.
They would, among other things, represent community interests in the formulation of policies on health issues and facilitate feedback on the management and performance of health services in the region.
Monitoring the effectiveness of communication with communities and the extent to which management of health services in the region addresses and resolves complaints submitted by communities would be one of its core mandates.
Dr Sefa Sarpong Bediako, the Chairman of the Council of GHS, who inaugurated the committee, charged the members to build a strong partnership with the directorate to ensure the prioritisation of the region’s health agenda for effective implementation.
As an advisory body to the health directorate, Dr Bediako urged the committee to work closely with the Regional Director in the performance of his duties to address the health needs of the people.
He charged the committee to facilitate dialogue with various stakeholders including local government and political leadership, traditional authorities, and public and private institutions to support health interventions at all levels to improve outcomes.
It must also set up alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to resolve issues between the Health Service and stakeholders, and between management and staff, he said.
Dr Bediako challenged the committee to champion resource mobilisation for the implementation of programmes and to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of resources.
It is also required to facilitate the establishment of metropolitan, municipal and district health committees and perform oversight roles on their activities to ensure effective service delivery.
Barima Sarfo Tweneboa Kodua, Chairman of the Committee, said the role assigned the committee was a national call to duty and pledged the commitment of members to work to improve the health delivery system in the region.
“The committee will deliver strategic advocacy and service support to the Regional Director, to advance health and well-being at the community, district and regional levels,” he assured.
He said they were assuming office at a time the regional health care system was challenged with poor and inadequate infrastructure, inequitable distribution of staff, and inadequate funding for regular supportive supervision, and promised the committee’s readiness to help address those challenges.
GNA