By Kingsley Mamore
Dambai (O/R), July 16, GNA – The Oti Regional Health Directorate has reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of health professionals serving in the conflict-affected Nkwanta South Municipality.
The Directorate has therefore commended the workers for their dedication, resilience and professionalism in ensuring healthcare delivery despite prevailing security challenges.
The assurance was given during a solidarity visit by a delegation from the Directorate, led by Dr Kofi Amo-Kodieh, Oti Regional Director of Health Services, to the Nkwanta South Municipal Hospital and St Joseph Hospital.
The visit formed part of efforts by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to assess the impact of the security situation on healthcare delivery, interact with frontline staff and encourage them to remain steadfast in providing quality healthcare services.
Addressing the health workers, Dr Amo-Kodieh praised their courage and selfless service, saying their commitment to duty under difficult circumstances reflected the core values of the GHS.
He acknowledged that many health professionals had continued to provide essential medical services despite disruptions to their personal lives and the risks associated with working in a conflict environment.
“The Ghana Health Service recognises the enormous pressure under which you are working. Your dedication to saving lives and serving the people, even in times of insecurity, reflects the highest standards of professionalism and commitment to humanity,” he said.
Dr Amo-Kodieh assured the staff that both regional and national management of the Service remained committed to their safety, welfare and professional wellbeing.
He said management would continue to engage the Ministry of Health, security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure health workers received the protection and logistical support needed to perform their duties effectively.
The Regional Director urged staff to remain united, vigilant and committed to professional ethics while taking necessary precautions to safeguard their personal security.
He noted that uninterrupted healthcare services were critical to protecting vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children, the aged and persons living with chronic illnesses.
Dr Amo-Kodieh also appealed to all parties involved in the conflict to embrace dialogue, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence to restore lasting peace to the municipality.
He stressed that peace was essential for socio-economic development and the effective delivery of healthcare, education and other public services.
Madam Rita Wurupah, Chairperson of the Conference of District Directors of Health Services in the Oti region, acknowledged the challenges confronting health workers serving in conflict-prone communities.
She urged health personnel in relatively peaceful areas to support their colleagues through professional cooperation and encouragement, noting that the strength of the GHS lay in teamwork, compassion and collective responsibility, particularly during periods of crisis.
During an interactive session, Mr Richard Kwadwo Azaglo and other health workers shared their experiences of working under the prevailing security conditions.
They said the conflict had disrupted family life, affected staff movement and complicated access to some communities for outreach services, immunisation programmes and other public health interventions.
The workers also raised concerns about accommodation, transportation, staff deployment and the psychological impact of operating in an environment characterised by uncertainty.
Despite the challenges, they reaffirmed their commitment to serving the people of Nkwanta South, saying their professional calling to save lives continued to inspire them to remain at post.
They appealed for sustained logistical support, improved security around health facilities, better staff accommodation, psychosocial support services and continued engagement with management.
Responding to the concerns, the Regional Health Directorate assured the workers that their welfare remained a priority and that the issues raised would be communicated to the appropriate authorities for attention.
The Directorate reiterated the Government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of health workers and providing the resources needed to sustain healthcare delivery in conflict-affected communities.
The health workers expressed appreciation to the Regional Directorate for the visit, describing it as timely and reassuring and as a significant boost to staff morale.
They said the engagement demonstrated that management recognised their sacrifices and remained committed to supporting them during the difficult period.
The GHS reaffirmed its resolve to continue monitoring the security situation and implementing interventions to protect frontline health workers while ensuring uninterrupted access to quality healthcare services for residents of Nkwanta South and surrounding communities.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah /Lydia Kukua Asamoah