By Dennis Peprah
Sunyani, (Bono), June 9, GNA-Mr Joseph Addae Akwaboa, the Bono Regional Minister on Tuesday urged health workers to remain professional and more compassionate to clients for the nation to derive the optimum benefit of the Free Primary Healthcare programme (FPHC).
He said the successful implementation of the programmes largely depended on health professionals, urging them to be more sensitive to the plight of clients and provide them with quality healthcare services.
By doing so, the minister said he was highly confident that the FPHC programme would achieve the intended purpose and well positioned the nation to achieve the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
President John Dramani Mahama launched the FPHC in April this year and described the programme as a critical pillar in the nation’s journey toward UHC.
The implementation of the programme, among other objectives, aimed at bridging the gaps left by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in expanded access to healthcare service delivery to rural and underserved communities.
Speaking at a Bono Regional launch of the FPHC programme in Sunyani, Mr Akwaboa reaffirmed the government’s dedication to create access to equitable healthcare service delivery to the people regardless of social and economic status.
The event, attended by health personnel, including Municipal and District Director of health as well as key stakeholders in the health sector was on the theme: “Free Primary Healthcare: Removing the financial barrier towards achieving universal health coverage”.
Mr Akwaboa noted that a healthy population remained resilient towards advancing socio-economic growth and sustainable development, yet many farmers and vulnerable people continue to experience financial barriers in accessing quality healthcare.
He said the FPHC therefore sought to remove the financial barriers and bring quality healthcare closer to the people and ensure that essential health services were easily accessible to especially the vulnerable population.
Mr Akwaboa noted that the implementation of the programme in the region was significant boost accessing quality healthcare service delivery across the urban and rural communities
He said a sustained collaboration was required from stakeholders including chiefs and queens, community members and local authorities for the programme to achieve useful health outcomes.
Mr Akwabo urged community members to take advantage of the programme and seek early healthcare service delivery to enhance their health status.
“In fact, the government is dedicated to ensuring that every household isn’t left out in achieving the UHC” and urged the health workers to remain committed to the implementation of the programme.
In a highlight, Dr Abdulai Abukari, the Bono Regional Director of Health said that the FPHC was being implemented in Banda, Dormaa West, Jaman North, Tain and Banda Districts as well as the Jaman South Municipality of the region.
He emphasised that the FPHC porgramme demonstrated the government’s unwavering commitment to enhance access to quality healthcare service delivery in the country.
Dr Abukari said the region had fully prepared health workers and strengthened systems for the programme to reach out to the people to derive optimum bbenefits
He said the region remained dedicated to operating a people-centered healthcare system to promote disease control, family planning and immunization, assuring that the programme would benefit every Ghanaian, regardless of financial status and social class.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Dennis Peprah