By Kingsley Mamore
WoraWora (O/R), Aug 29, GNA- The Oti Regional Health Directorate has held its 2024 half-year performance review meeting on the theme: “Achieving Universal Health Coverage through the Network of Practice Approach.”
In a welcome address, the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Osei Kuffour Afreh, explained that the choice of the theme for the half-year performance review was based on the assertion that the Network of Practice Concept entailed the retooling and equipping of health facilities across the country to enhance referral and improved quality healthcare across the various levels of service delivery.
Dr Afreh said several systems and cross-cutting challenges bedevilled health service delivery in the region, which included the absence of regional medical stores, lack of residential accommodation for staff, inadequate boats and vehicles for service delivery, inadequate Doctors, Physician Assistants, Midwives, Technical and support staff, and absence of a secondary referral facility in the region.
He said the region recorded some significant developments which were positively impacting health delivery activities across the Oti Region.
“These include Skilled deliveries decreased marginally from 64.4 per cent in the first half year of 2023 to 62.69 per cent during the same period this year.
“Still-birth rate decreased marginally from 9.9 per cent in the first half year of 2023 to 6.92 per cent during the same period this year with Biakoye District accounting for most of the cases (18.81%).
“Anaemia in pregnancy at 36 weeks in the region decreased from 41 per cent in the first half year of 2023 to 35.67 per cent during the same period this year with Krachi West Municipal accounting for most of the cases (56.9%).
“The neonatal mortality rate decreased significantly by 3.6 per cent during the first half year of 2023 to 1.69 in the same period of this year with Biakoye District accounting for the highest rate of 5.83 per cent. OPD Per Capital is almost stagnant from 0.71 in the first half year of 2023 to 0.74 in the first half year of 2024.”
Dr Affreh said adolescent pregnancy decreased slightly from 13.2 per cent to 11.89 per cent during the same period of this year with Krachi West Municipal accounting for the highest rate of 14.9 per cent.
“The region achieved more than 99.7 per cent coverage for Penta 3.100. 2 per cent for Measles, Rubella 1, and 100.6 per cent for Rota 1 and OPV 3.”
In the fight against COVID-19, the Health Director noted that, the vaccination coverage rate covered over 60.5 per cent, which is a significant improvement from the low pace and interest generated at the beginning of the vaccination exercise in 2020.
He said during the period under review four positive cases of COVID-19 were recorded and managed with no fatalities, adding that, in surveillance, the region recorded eighty-nine suspected cases of measles out of which, five were positive with no fatalities.
Dr Afreh expressed appreciation to the staff of the regional directorate, members of the regional health committee, senior health professionals, hard-working health personnel, Oti Regional Coordinating Council (ORCC) and dependable health partners, and traditional authorities for their continuous support to the regional health directorate both technically and financially during the period under review.
GNA