By Emelia B. Addae
Koforidua, Dec. 10, GNA- The Eastern Regional Health Directorate has organised a stakeholder engagement and regional launch of the Network of Practice (NoP), in Koforidua.
The launch was on the theme: ” Increasing access to quality essential health care and population-based services for all.”
By 2030 Ghana aims to achieve 80 percent Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
In his speech, Dr Winfred Ofosu, Eastern Regional Director of Health, said the Network of Practice is an initiative that reinforces the commitment of the health sector to identify approaches to strengthen health service delivery, especially in the underserved communities and sub-district level.
He said the Network would be strengthened through the provision of adequate equipment and staffing, upgrading of the hub into a model health care by creating additional space for service delivery, support with mobility and logistics.
He said all health facilities within the network would have the opportunity to share these resources, including referral to meet the health needs of everyone within the geographical area.
Additionally, hospitals will provide clinical outreaches and supervision including mentoring for the networks as a way of continuous professional development.
He said, ” This new arrangement is set to transform and revolutionize health service delivery in the country.”
Dr Mrs Alberta Biritwum-Nyarko, Director, Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division of the Ghana Health Service, said since the inception of the Network of Practice in 2023, the NoP had made strides in establishing partnerships with key stakeholders from the public, private, and civil society sectors to promote dialogue and collaborative action.
She said training programmes and technical assistance had been provided to strengthen the skills and competencies of health workers and policy makers.
Pilot programmes in areas such as maternal and child health, non-communicable diseases, and mental health had demonstrated the value of coordinated, and multisectoral approaches, she added.
Regarding the way forward, she said the Ghana Health Service will utilize digital tools and technologies to expand access to health services, improve data collection, and enhance service delivery efficiency.
The Service will advocate for increased investments in health to close funding gaps, ensuring sustainable and equitable financing mechanisms for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Furthermore, Dr Mrs Biritwum-Nyarko said the Service would integrate the network’s efforts with broader Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 3) priorities, focusing on reducing maternal mortality, combating communicable diseases, and addressing determinants of health, including poverty and education.
In addition, it will develop a more robust frameworks for tracking progress, identifying challenges, and scaling up successful interventions across regions, she said.
” The Network of Practice is not just a framework but a shared vision of a world where everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has access to the health services they need without financial hardship,” she emphasized and added ” together, we can create a healthier, more equitable future for all.”
GNA