By Yussif Ibrahim
Tweedie (Ash), Sept. 21, GNA – The Atwima Kwanwoma District Health Directorate recorded improvements in several key health indicators during the first half of 2026, while identifying areas requiring intensified interventions.
The gains were highlighted at the 2026 Mid-Year Performance Review Meeting of the Directorate to assess the district’s health-sector performance from January to June against set targets.
Mr. David Opoku, District Health Information Officer, who made the presentation, outlined the Directorate’s achievements, challenges and planned interventions for the remainder of the year.
He said the review showed improvements in postnatal care within 48 hours of birth, antenatal care attendance, child growth monitoring, prescription practices and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) testing.
According to Mr. Opoku, 98.0 per cent of babies were breastfed within one hour after delivery, while 99.1 per cent of newborns received postnatal care within 48 hours of birth.
He said the proportion of mothers who made at least four antenatal care visits stood at 108.8 per cent during the period under review.
The district also recorded 94.9 per cent Penta 3 immunisation coverage, while 55.8 per cent of children aged between six and 59 months received routine Vitamin A supplementation.
On healthcare data management, Mr. Opoku said the completeness of financial returns in the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2) increased to 98.6 per cent.
He said the district also recorded 100 per cent performance in equipment inventory, eLMIS capacity utilisation, Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS) completeness and planned data validation meetings.
On clinical and public health emergency services, Mr. Opoku said the district recorded a 93.8 per cent TB treatment success rate, 99.9 per cent malaria testing before treatment and 100 per cent PMTCT testing coverage.
He added that prescription of medicines by generic name stood at 96.37 per cent during the period.
Despite the gains, Mr. Opoku said the review identified some areas requiring urgent attention, including the low proportion of facility deaths that were medically certified, skilled delivery geographical equity index, hypertension and diabetes case detection, antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage and TB case notification, particularly in the Trabuom Sub-District.
He attributed some of the challenges to inadequate medical officers for death certification, low community response to screening activities, inadequate data capture and limited community screening for some diseases.
Mr. Opoku said the Directorate would intensify community screening, strengthen supportive supervision, improve TB case detection and notification, and enhance ART and viral-load testing to address the identified gaps.
He said the Directorate would also conduct refresher training for health staff on data management and undertake mop-up campaigns for Measles-Rubella and other underperforming antigens.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Yussif Ibrahim