By Dorcas Stephens
Accra, Oct. 6, GNA – The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has launched a Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Framework to support the management of public health emergencies.
The RCCE implementation framework was launched at the closing ceremony of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) three-day Senior Managers Meeting (SMM) held in Accra.
The RCCE framework, a six-pillar model, would provide systematic guidelines to ensure preparedness and response before, during and after public health crises.
The model would effectively provide the health sector with a comprehensive approach that would ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the system during public health emergencies.
Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Acting Director General of the GHS, speaking at the SMM on the theme: “Resetting Healthcare Delivery for Effective Governance, Equitable and Sustainable Financing to achieve Universal Health Coverage,” said the repositioning of the GHS could be achieved if health workers could adjust themselves to provide more support towards improving the sector.
“This is the time for reset. We must reset ourselves first before we can reset other people,” he said.
Mrs. Mabel Kissiwah Asafo, Acting Director, Health Promotion Department (HPD), GHS, urged senior managers and stakeholders to champion the RCCE framework and ensure that resources and structures were activated and sustained for accountability.
She said the framework should not be left void to attract unnecessary rumours and misinformation within the health sector.
“In all public health emergencies, information is as critical as the medicines that we give,” she said.
Dr. Zanetor Rawlings, Member of Parliament (MP) for Korley Klotte, said favourable working environment in the health sector for staff had greater impact on patients.
Dr. Rawlings also encouraged the GHS staff to make sure medical facilities were providing dignity and respect for patient care.
“It is important that we remember that every number that we see in statistics is actually someone’s relative,” she added.
The RCCE Framework is a roadmap that will save lives, strengthen trust and build community resilience.
The framework will ensure timely protective actions, build trust between health authorities and communities, prevent and reduce fear, rumours and misinformation.
It will also foster community engagement and participation, develop message dissemination, build capacity and support health workers acquire more expertise in monitoring, feedback and the adaptation of sustainability and integration.
The Senior Managers Meeting is an annual meeting held by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to discuss significant issues related to the health sector.
The SMM creates a platform to address challenges within the healthcare sector and strategize to improve service delivery, strengthen leadership and make advances in preparedness and planning to achieve universal health coverage.
GNA
Christian Akorlie