By Stephen Asante
Accra, Sept. 04, GNA – President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says Ghana’s focus on health reforms and infrastructural development has brought significant improvement in public health outcomes and accessibility.
Some 56 per cent of the population currently is covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme, he noted, adding that, “this makes it one of Africa’s most successful health insurance programmes”.
The President, in an address at the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF), in Bali, stated that maternal mortality had reduced from 580 per 100,000 live births to 310 per 100,000 live births over the last three decades.
Under-five mortality has also dropped from 127 per 1,000 live births to 41 per 1,000 live births within the same period.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been partnering Ghana to focus on three strategic priorities, providing support to the health sector medium-term development plans and other frameworks, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
The priority areas include strengthening the health system based on primary healthcare towards universal health coverage, health emergencies preparedness and response, as well as addressing social, economic, and environmental determinants of health.
Through the collaboration, Ghana was assisted by the world’s health apex body to successfully prepare and respond to various outbreaks in 2023, including meningitis, Lassa fever, and anthrax.
Resource mobilisation efforts at the country level led to an increase in in-country institutional funding by US$1.9 million last year, according to the 2023 WHO Annual Report.
In the area of communicable and non-communicable diseases, WHO supported the country to accelerate progress towards pediatric HIV and tuberculosis (TB) targets, including triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission.
Surveillance for gambiense Human African Trypanosomiasis (g-HAT) was also strengthened, the first STEP survey was conducted, and mental health integrated into the primary health care within the year under review.
Ghana, with WHO’s technical support, also demonstrated the value of the Malaria vaccine through its participation in the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP), contributing significantly to the global understanding of the vaccine.
“Ghana is positioning itself as a favorable destination for health-related investments.” President Nana Akufo-Addo asserted.
He said the integration of renewable energy into healthcare infrastructure, such as the solar energy initiative for hospitals, aligned with the country’s commitment to sustainability and providing reliable electricity, particularly in rural areas.
The President’s address highlighted the relevance of the Government’s flagship infrastructural initiative, the “Agenda 111”, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
The agenda is to construct some 111 hospitals across the country, ensuring that every district is equipped with modern healthcare facilities.
“Agenda 111 is about more than just infrastructure. It is about making healthcare more accessible and equitable for all Ghanaians,” the President noted.
The Government, he said, was determined to strengthen the nation’s healthcare system as a driver of development, therefore, some challenges that remained, such as the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, effects of climate change on health, and the need to build resilience against future pandemics were dealt with.
“We remain committed to overcoming these challenges through continuous innovation, investment, and collaboration with our partners,” he assured.
The President appealed to African nations to embrace the principle of “wealth through health” as a sustainable development strategy.
“Let us learn from each other, share our experiences, and build stronger partnerships to ensure a healthier, wealthier, and more prosperous future for our people,” he advised.
The Indonesia-Africa Forum seeks to promote socio-economic, cultural and trade partnership among the nations. Indonesia always values the strategic importance of Africa.
Some sixty-nine years ago, in 1955, the country hosted the gathering of leaders of newly independent states in the city of Bandung for the Asian-African Conference, which adopted the ‘Bandung Spirit’.
The concept underscores the importance of promoting sovereignty, equal partnership, justice, mutual interest, and cooperation, and these principles would become the basis for Indonesia in pursuing a robust relationship with Africa.
In that regard, Indonesia hosted the first IAF in 2018, which was acclaimed for its success, as the Forum attracted participation from 47 African countries and resulted in the signing of business deals worth US$ 586.56 million.
Additionally, it marked a groundbreaking moment with the establishment of Preferential Trade Agreements with Mozambique and Tunisia, the creation of Indonesia’s National Interest Account to support trade with Africa, and the launching of a direct flight between Indonesia and Africa with Ethiopian Air.
GNA