By Erica Apeatua Addo, GNA
Akyempim (W/R), May 26, GNA – Society of Family Physicians of Ghana (SOFPOG) has been commended for its unwavering commitment to strengthening primary healthcare delivery in Ghana.
Joseph Nelson, the Western Regional Minister, praised the society for its dedication to holistic, patient-centred, and community-based healthcare, noting that its contribution continued to play a crucial role in Ghana’s health system.
He made the remarks during SOFPOG’s stakeholder engagement held to commemorate this year’s World Family Doctor Day at Akyempim in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.
The programme was held on the theme: “Strengthening primary care through compassion and digital innovation.”
According to Mr. Nelson, the theme underscored the need to maintain compassion at the centre of healthcare delivery, even as digital technology increasingly transformed medical practice globally.
“As a government, we recognize that achieving universal health coverage will not be possible without strengthening healthcare delivery at the community level. This is why the current administration continues to prioritize investment in primary healthcare across the country,” he stated.
The Minister assured family physicians and frontline health workers that the Western Regional Coordinating Council would continue to support initiatives aimed at improving quality healthcare delivery, community well-being, and innovation in the health sector.
He also urged stakeholders to use the engagement not only as a platform for discussion but as an avenue to build practical partnerships and develop actionable solutions to improve healthcare delivery.
Speaking at the event, Daniel Boadi, Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, stated that the company placed safety at the centre of its operations and strongly believed that quality healthcare was a fundamental human right rather than a luxury.
He noted that access to quality healthcare promoted community well-being, productivity, and national development, adding that the company’s purpose was “mining to empower people and advance societies.”
Mr. Boadi expressed optimism that deliberations at the programme would generate innovative ideas, practical recommendations, and sustainable solutions needed to strengthen Ghana’s primary healthcare system.
The President of SOFPOG, Baaba Damoah, explained that Ghana’s health system was largely anchored on primary care, which remained the core area of operation for family physicians.
She said the number of family physicians in the country had increased over the years, with many now serving in district-level facilities.
“We are not specialists who work at the secondary or tertiary level; we are with you in the communities,” she emphasized.
Dr. Damoah added that many family physicians currently managed district and municipal hospitals while supervising health centres and CHPS compounds to ensure residents had access to specialist care at the community level.
She reiterated the society’s commitment to raising awareness about the specialty and encouraged more people to join the profession to help expand healthcare services across Ghana.
Also addressing the gathering, Wilhemina Tiwaah Duah Morttey, Municipal Director of Health Services for Tarkwa Nsuaem, commended SOFPOG for organizing free surgeries and medical screening exercises for residents in the municipality earlier this month.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga /Audrey Dekalu
Reporter: Erica Apeatua Addo