By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Sumbrungu (U/E), Nov 7, GNA – As part of efforts to ensure coordinated provision of quality healthcare and services, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has launched the Network of Practice (NoP) at Sumbrungu East Sub-Municipality in the Bolgatanga Municipality.
The NoP is the practical operationalisation of the interconnectedness of the public and private sector health facilities within a geographical location as part of efforts to increase access to quality health care in the Network, especially at the primary level.
The initiative, therefore, reinforces the commitment of the health sector to identify innovative approaches to increase quality essential healthcare for all and at all levels, with the aim of contributing to the country’s efforts to achieving the Universal Health Coverage agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
The intention of the NoP policy is to leverage on existing structures in the health sector to strengthen primary health care, to improve health outcomes, especially in the peripheries, remote and hard to reach communities.
In the Bolgatanga Municipality, the policy is being piloted in the Sumbrungu East Sub-Municipality and the Sherigu Sub-Municipality.
In a speech read on his behalf at the launch at Sumbrungu, Dr Samuel Kwabena Boakye-Boateng, the Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, noted that when well established, the NoP would significantly improve access to primary health care, especially for maternal and child health.
He said the NoP policy would also contribute to reducing fragmentation in coordinating referrals and leverage on limited resources to maximise performance at all levels and urged all stakeholders involved to play their roles effectively.
“The policy is not necessarily a new one but brings on board innovation to inject more efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of our collective mandate as service providers”, he said.
Mr Stephen Bordotsiah, the Bolgatanga Municipal Director, GHS, said the NoP would work in the form of “Hub and Spokes” system where the selected health centre becomes the hub and the various health facilities, both public and private, are the spokes.
“The spokes will include all CHPS compounds, some active pharmacy/chemical shops, traditional and alternative medicines centre among others”, he said.
According to Mr Bordotsiah, the health centre was termed as the Model Health Centre under the NoP and the policy required it to be equipped with requisite logistics and equipment to serve as a primary referral facility for the various spokes within the Network.
“This involves planning to address service gaps, sharing of resources and performance management to provide comprehensive, patient centred network that deliver equitably distributed high quality and continuous care of clients.
“The NoP will boost existing health systems where health providers work in tandem to deliver services to the populace within a geographical area. It is imperative therefore that the NoP be supported to grow as it promises to be the new dynamic way to make our healthcare delivery more efficient and of high quality”, he added.
Madam Christiana Tibil, the Physician Assistant in charge of Sumbrungu East Sub-Municipality, said the NoP would not only help to promote cooperation and communication among health facilities and stakeholders but would also strengthen referral systems within the Network to promote quality healthcare delivery.
“When it is well implemented, it will help to reduce pressure on the hospitals”, adding that management would work with the various stakeholders within the Network through engagement and committees and appealed to residents to assist the facility to play its role as the hub of the Network.
Mr Edward Azamo Alemya, Representative of Sumbrungu-Kolgo Chief, lauded the GHS for innovating to improve healthcare delivery in the area and pledged the commitment of the community to support the facility to deliver on its mandate.
GNA