District directors of health have met to discuss complementing governments COVID-19 response and capacity building in over forty districts across the country. The meeting also dialogued on health systems strengthening to respond effectively to any similar future emergencies and disease outbreaks.
The meeting came off last Thursday (October 15th, 2020) in Sunyani, under the courtesy of the Christian Health Association of Ghana(CHAG) in partnership with the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
In attendance were 48 district directors of health with Dr Patrick Aboagye, DG of GHS as the guest of honor. Also present was the Executive director of CHAG, Peter Yeboah, Dr Elias Sory, special project advisor, Dr Kofi Issah, project steering committee and Mr Shamwill Issah, Technical advisor to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
The meeting forms part of CHAG’s COVID-19 response and institutional capacity building (CRIB) project for the continuous provision of basic health services at the district level.
Timeliness of CHAG, GHS Partnership
Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kumah-Aboagye, who was the guest of honor for the meeting, appraised the timeliness of CHAG’s COVID-19 response and institutional capacity building (CRIB) project indicating that “it is something we should have done long ago”.
He admitted that the covid-19 disease outbreak in Ghana has exposed some of the weaknesses as well as the strength of the health system especially an all partnership approach which is instrumental in bringing the infection under control.
“Our (GHS) Collaboration with CHAG to build capacity of the directors can not be underestimated because the work of the services is mainly at the district level” he said.
Dr Aboagye expressed his optimism that, this will build the synergy needed in responding to any future outbreak in the country and equally build systems which can survive the continuity of essential services provision in the midst of the pandemic.
He called on all to continue ensuring the covid-19 protocols such as the wearing of face mask, ensuring social distancing and washing of hands with soap and water.
Implementation Support
According to Shamwill Issah, a technical adviser at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office(FCDO) in Ghana, remarked that, the CRIB Project received the necessary funding owing to the emergency nature of COVID-19
disease, and the the interest to strengthen capacity of health facilities across the country to respond to emergency situations including COVID-19.
He admitted that, participating in the meeting has broadened the understanding of healthcare systems in the country and the dire need for partnerships.
He charged participants and all other stakeholders involved to support implementation of the CRIB project to achieve it’s objectives to improve health outcomes.
About the CRIB Project
COVID-19 response and institutional capacity building for the continuous provision of basic health services at the district level (CRIB).
The program seeks to build capacity of CHAG to assist/complement government’s effort to maintain the delivery of essential healthcare services across the continuum of care, and avoid the risk of outbreak of other communicable and preventable diseases, delays in seeking care and poorer quality of care; while at the same time responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.
CHAG will work with its facilities (especially 40 facilities that are designated as district hospitals), GHS and private facilities in 40 districts.