By Emmanuel Nyatsikor
Ho, May 29, GNA – Mr. Samuel Yao Atidzah, Executive Director of GOSANET Foundation, Wednesday emphasised the importance of community ownership of health service delivery describing it as the lasting solution to health challenges.
“We believe that the lasting solution to our health challenges lie within our communities,” he said.
Mr. Atidzah said this at a day training workshop organised by GOSANET Foundation for Community Health Volunteers drawn from Sokode Gborgame, Goshion City, Hodzo Aviefe, Hodzoga, Akoefe, Fiave, Tsiyikpota, Taviefe, Hofedo, and Sokode Lokoe in the Ho Municipal area in Ho.
The workshop was to equip the Volunteers to carry out house to house education, organise focus group discussions, and track immunization defaulters.
Those activities are aimed to create demand for both childhood and adult immunizations, dispel misconceptions about vaccines and improve immunization rates in underserved communities.
Mr. Atidzah said equipping the Volunteers with the requisite knowledge and skills would ensure that no child or adult was left behind in the fight against preventable diseases.
He said GOSANET Foundation in partnership with the Ghana Coalition of NGOs (GCNH) was actively implementing GAVI CDS Year 3 activities under the World Bank supported Community Immunization Support Initiative (CDS 3 Project) in the Ho Municipality of the Volta region.
The Executive Director noted that the initiative was part of a broader national strategy to improve immunization coverage and enhance community involvement in primary healthcare delivery.
He said the CDS 3 Project which was launched in 2022 was designed to address the low performance of the COVID-19 Vaccination in selected districts, including Ho.
Mr. Atidzah said the project was expanded this year to encompass other essential immunization services such as hepatitis B, yellow fever, cholera, HPV, and childhood vaccinations.
He said through the initiative, GOSANET Foundation was complementing efforts of the Ghana Health Service to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with vaccine-preventable diseases.
“The initiative also focuses on collaboration among health authorities, traditional leaders and community-based organizations to ensure effective and efficient planning, implementation and monitoring of immunization activities,” he said.
He stated that 10 communities had been targeted for CDS 3 intervention this year.
The Executive Director said GOSANET Foundation would continue to champion and promote health and development initiatives that would improve the lives of the people of the Volta region.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/Christian Akorlie