The maiden edition of CHAG’s COVID-19 and Institutional Capacity Building (CRIB) Project Newsletter is out now.
The newsletter is intended to share interventions put in place to fight COVID-19 in 40 district hospitals and lessons learned with stakeholders, institutions, individuals, and health professionals.
The CRIB Newsletter highlights in this edition information on the CRIB project, COVID-19 situation in Ghana, and important timelines for the pandemic. It further looks at the current issues around COVID testing and progress made on the CRIBproject. Also included are the exclusive views of some of the District Directors of Health Services on the Project are captured.
In an opening editorial, Dr James Duah, deputy director and editor of the CRIB newsletter indicated that, if there was ever a time that the private, public and quasi government institutions came together to fight a common cause, as it is in this era of COVID-19. He recognized the Government of Ghana’s response which has been so (significantly) visible, with clearly demonstrated leadership that has been commended by the international community.
“However, given the quantum of resources required to fight the pandemic, it is undisputed that the government alone cannot meet the demands. It is for this purpose that CHAG, as a key implementing partner with a focus in rural areas, has been supported by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), formerly DFID, to complement the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.” the editorial
The editorial team hereby encourages all especially CHAG staff to either grab a copy or download it to read through this first edition of the CRIB Newsletter and follow some of the interventions being undertaken in the 40 districts. Whilst the newsletter apprise you of these activities, you are encouraged to join hands with CHAG to fight COVID-19. It begins with you, your household, and your community.
As you read, join us to appreciate FCDO for supporting CHAG without which these interventions wouldn’t have been possible. CHAG is grateful to the organizations and individuals for their various contributions and support to the project including:
- Ghana Health Service for working with CHAG in the 40 selected districts
- Ministry of Health for supporting CHAG facilities outside the project with PPEs
- Dr Patrick Kumah Aboagye, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service his ever-ready support to this project
- All the District Directors of Health Services from the 40 selected districts
- The Steering Committee Members of the CRIB project
- The Technical Committee Members of the CHAG Board of Trustees
- Members of the DHEP Platform in all the 40 districts
- COVID-19 Teams in all the 40 district hospitals
- CRIB Project Team members at the CHAG Secretariat
- All the staff in the 40 CHAG facilities
- Reviewers of the maiden edition of the newsletter: Christopher Nkrumah (WHO Certified Biomedical Laboratory Scientist, Methodist Hospital Wenchi), Gilbert Boakye, (Biomedical Scientist, the King’s Medical Centre, Bontanga), Emmanuel Asiedu Biomedical Scientist, Pentecost Hospital, Madina), and Rachel Pinto (CHAG Secretariat)
The CRIB project is a 2-year project by CHAG sponsored by FCDO in 40 districts where CHAG facilities are district hospitals. The project seeks to support the Government of Ghana’s response to Covid-19 in strengthening Ghana’s Health Systems to maintain the delivery of essential healthcare services and mobilize all available resources for Covid-19 response actions.