By Mildred Siabi-Mensah, GNA
Takoradi, June 03, GNA- Dr. Marion Okoh-Owusu, the outgoing Western Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, has been highly commended for her meritorious service in the Region in the area of health.
She has also earned widespread praise from health workers in the Western North Region for her dedicated leadership and outstanding service.
Dr. Okoh-Owusu built a record of accomplishment of effective team building and mentoring of health professionals.
She has strong research and academic credentials with published public health work, and a results-oriented leadership style that transformed health service delivery in the multiple regions she served.
Madam Dorcas Abakah, a Public Health Nurse, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of the launch of the Free Primary Health Care Programme, said her tenure was marked by vision, professionalism, and a commitment to improving healthcare access and quality for all.
She spoke highly of how Dr. Okoh-Owusu successfully led response teams to handle public health emergencies, including Mpox outbreaks, strengthened community-based healthcare delivery, and promoted the use of ICT in health management systems.
Dr. Okoh-Owusu served as the first Western North Regional Director of Health Services after the creation of the Western North Region in 2019.
There, she supervised the establishment of robust regional health systems and administrative structures for the newly created Region.
Her work has improved maternal and child health indicators, including reductions in maternal mortality and stillbirth rates, and contributed to significant reductions in malaria cases through public health interventions.
She advocated improved infrastructure, including medical stores, emergency facilities, staff accommodation, and hospital upgrades. She also promoted continuous professional development and attracted health professionals to underserved areas.
In the Western Region, she championed a regional agenda focused on high-quality primary healthcare and universal access to health services.
While working to improve upon healthcare outcomes, her leadership style also helped retain doctors and other health professionals in the Regions.
Dr. Marion Okoh-Owusu possesses an impressive academic and professional background: MB ChB (Medicine and Surgery)– Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Master of Public Health, (MPH)– University of Warwick, PhD in Health Policy – University of Warwick and Postgraduate Diploma in Nutrition – Boston University
She is a member of the Ghana College of Physicians, former Treasurer of the Ghana Medical Association, and former National President of the Medical Women Association of Ghana.
Dr. Marion Okoh-Owusu described her reassignment to Greater Accra as an opportunity to serve Ghanaians from a broader perspective.
She said, “My extensive experience in health systems leadership and management, public health policy development and implementation, and strong skills in strategic planning, monitoring, and evaluation will be leveraged for the betterment of my motherland.”
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Mildred Siabi-Mensah