By Solomon Gumah
Nalerigu (NE/R), March 20, GNA – The North East Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has held its 2024 annual performance review meeting to assess its programmes, activities, and interventions over the previous year.
The two-day review meeting which ended at Nalerigu, was on the theme: “Rational Management of Health Workforce towards Achieving Quality Universal Health Coverage”.
It was attended by key stakeholders in the health sector including traditional and religious leaders, local and international partners, such as the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and Savanna Signatures.
The meeting provided a platform for participants to evaluate achievements and challenges against set goals and propose pragmatic solutions for improved performance in 2025.
Dr Braimah Abubakari Baba, the North East Regional Director, GHS, said the region continued to make immense progress in healthcare delivery, particularly in the implementation of the Health Sector Medium-Term Development Plan towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.
He said there was a slight decline in its total Out-Patient Department (OPD) attendance, which dropped from 498,448 in 2023 to 484,444 in 2024, representing a 2.8 per cent decrease.
Again, antenatal care registration in the first trimester saw a modest increase from 40.6 per cent to 42.3 per cent in 2024, and said the Directorate was committed to improving this figure through intensified health education on early pregnancy reporting.
Dr Baba indicated that the total number of deliveries in the region declined from 21,086 in 2023 to 20,553 in 2024, while the regional institutional maternal mortality ratio dropped significantly from 51 per 100,000 live births in 2023 to 48 per 100,000 live births in 2024, far ahead of the UHC target of 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
He however, expressed concern over a rise in stillbirth rates from 8.6 per cent in 2023 to 9.1 per cent in 2024, as well as an increase in institutional neonatal mortality from four per 1,000 live births in 2023 to six per 1,000 live births in 2024 representing a 29.8 per cent rise.
Dr Baba mentioned major challenges including incomplete health infrastructure, which continued to hinder the smooth delivery of quality healthcare in the region, saying the North East Region was among six newly created ones which were still without a regional medical stores, forcing the Directorate to rely on the Northern Region for its supply of essential drugs and non-drug consumables.
Mr Ibrahim Tia, the North East Regional Minister, whose speech was read on his behalf, commended the Regional Health Directorate for its efforts in ensuring quality healthcare delivery.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting the sector in its quest to achieve UHC.
Miss Myeongseon Kim, the KOICA representative at the event, reaffirmed the Korean Government’s support for healthcare development in Ghana.
She mentioned ongoing projects such as the Increasing Health Security Capacities through the Global Security Agenda, Improving Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, and the CHPS+ Phase two Project in the North East and Upper East Regions, as some of the interventions supported by the Korean Government.
She emphasised the need to strengthen healthcare workforce capacity, enhance facilities and equipment, and promote community engagement for improved health outcomes.
Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, the Overlord of the Mamprugu Traditional Area, whose speech was read on his behalf, commended the GHS for its continuous commitment to quality healthcare, and stressed on the importance of peace and stability in the region.
GNA
EA/CAA