By Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu, GNA
Bolgatanga, Sept. 15, GNA – The District Directors of Health Service Group (DDHS-G), has called for increased investment in community-based surveillance and stronger coordination among health stakeholders to improve Ghana’s preparedness and response to disease outbreaks.
The call formed part of resolutions adopted at the end of the 33rd Annual General Conference of the DDHS-G held in Bolgatanga.
The five-day conference brought together District Directors of Health Service from across Ghana, health sector leaders, professional associations, traditional authorities, development partners and other stakeholders to deliberate on the implementation of the Government’s Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) policy and challenges confronting primary health care delivery.
In a communique jointly signed by Dr Justice Thomas Sevugu, the National Chairman of the DDHS-G and Mr Martin Sumani Daanko, National Secretary, said beyond healthcare access, the conference placed emphasis on strengthening the country’s capacity to detect and respond to epidemics at the district and community levels.
“The Conference emphasised the need to strengthen district epidemic preparedness and response systems through improved stakeholder coordination, case management, surveillance and data quality,” the communiqué stated.
The group called for increased investment in Community-Based Surveillance, explaining that stronger surveillance systems were necessary to improve the timeliness and completeness of health information.
It also urged closer collaboration with the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), private health facilities, and laboratories, as well as continuous supportive supervision.
The conference identified strong primary health care systems as essential to Ghana’s efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
“Strong Primary Health Care systems, supported by competent health workers, sustainable financing, reliable medicines and diagnostics, quality data, and community participation are indispensable to achieving UHC,” the communiqué said.
The DDHS Group consequently urged the Ghana Health Service to strengthen implementation support and supportive supervision across all districts and intensify capacity building for District Directors and frontline health workers.
It also called for stronger monitoring, evaluation, and accountability through data-driven performance management.
The group placed responsibility on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to make Primary Health Care a development priority by investing in Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, health centres, and other critical infrastructure.
Among the areas identified for investment were the renovation of deteriorating health facilities, replacement of equipment, staff accommodation in deprived communities, water and sanitation, transport, and digital infrastructure.
The group also called for greater community mobilization and preventive health campaigns.
The communique further encouraged development partners to align their support with Ghana’s FPHC agenda through investments in operational research, digital health innovations, health systems strengthening and district leadership development.
The DDHS Group reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Primary Health Care through evidence-based planning and performance improvement, while fostering partnerships with communities, traditional authorities, MMDAs and development partners.
The conference said the pivotal role of District Directors was to translate national health policy into measurable health outcomes at the community level.
It, therefore, called on all stakeholders to work together to ensure that the FPHC policy becomes a practical reality for communities across Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Reporter’s email: [email protected]