By Maxwell Awumah
Ho, Aug. 18, GNA – Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, has underscored the government’s commitment to the Free Primary Healthcare Programme (FPHP), describing it as a concrete intervention aimed at ensuring seamless implementation of the policy across the region.
Towards this goal, he said 36 Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds had been completed, while 26 others were at various stages of completion. Five of the planned health kiosks under Phase One of the policies had also been completed.
Speaking in an address read for him at the 2026 Volta Regional Mid-Year Health Sector Performance Conference in Ho on Tuesday, the Minister called for public support and buy-in to ensure the smooth implementation of the programme.
The one-day self-appraisal exercise was held on the theme: “Championing Free Primary Healthcare to Achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).”
Mr Gunu said the investments were expected to strengthen quality healthcare delivery at the community level and bring services closer to the people.
He drew a close relationship between healthcare and access to safe water and sanitation, describing them as intertwined, and said the government was committed to investing in those sectors to promote quality service delivery.
He emphasised that review conferences should transcend the reporting of achievements and urged participants to identify challenges affecting service delivery and develop practical solutions to ensure that the benefits of government interventions reached the core people.
Mr Gunu appealed to stakeholders to continue working together to achieve UHC, saying it required the collective commitment of the government, health workers, District Assemblies, traditional authorities, development partners and communities.
He charged health professionals to use the remaining months of 2026 to consolidate the gains made, address gaps, and deliver more for the region.
Dr Emmanuel Atsu Dodor, Regional Director of Health Services, said six districts had been selected to benefit from the FPHP under Phase One of the programme. They are Agortime-Ziope, Akatsi North, Anloga, South Dayi, North Tongu and Adaklu, with preparations underway for implementation.
He disclosed that the region recorded moderate improvements in some performance areas, including first-trimester antenatal care, anaemia in pregnancy, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, skilled delivery, institutional neonatal mortality rate, institutional maternal mortality ratio and stillbirth rate.
However, he said several indicators showed decline or stagnation, including all antigens such as Td2, BCG, yellow fever, Penta 1 and 3, PCV, malaria vaccines, MR1 and MR2, as well as Long-Lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN) coverage, which fell below the national target.
Dr Dodor announced that remedial measures would be activated, including brainstorming sessions to generate workable change ideas, hospital peer-review exercises and comprehensive regional integrated supportive supervision to provide coaching and guidance to facilities across the region.
He mentioned flooding as one of the key challenges encountered during the period under review, saying it disrupted service delivery, particularly outreach programmes.
He said the conference would help evolve practical solutions to overcome such challenges and
GNA
Edited by Audrey Dekalu