The Catholic Bishop for the Damongo Diocese, Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier has on Saturday, 22nd October,2022 inaugurated a nine member Diocesan Health Service Board of the Diocese at Damongo.
In a welcome address, the Diocesan health Director, Mr. Aiden Ngmenbon expressed gratitude to the Bishop of the Diocese and his senate for inaugurating the board which according to him will help better the face of the Diocesan health service.
He explained that, for nearly a year in office as Diocesan health director, the Diocesan health Directorate has achieved some successes including the inauguration of the Diocesan health service board for the first time, commissioning of two new polyclinics in the diocese, Audited for the first time all health facilities in the Diocese except the St. Anne’s hospitaland have also held pre – budget sessions for the health facilities .
He added that, the Diocesan health directorate is collaborating with the regional health directorate and other stakeholders to pursue vigorously the upgrade of the st. Joseph, Good shepherd and martyrs of Uganda health centers to hospitals and to recruit and retain medical doctors to work in their facilities.
He also disclose that, they will train critical care nurses, perioperative nurses, sonographers among others and will be carrying out an aggressive resource mobilization drive through grant proposal writing.
He further added that, there will be capacity building seminars on grant proposal writing and research.
He disclosed that, the Diocese is working Assiduously to establish an allied health training school in the diocese.
The Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier in an address before inaugurating the board explained that, the vision of the church has always been to offer quality health services to the people within their territory and beyond, especially the poor and the underprivileged in the society.
He said the Diocese has Over the years been faithful in this commitment amidst the numerous challenges facing their health facilities which includes the limited and inadequate infrastructure adding that though most facilities are located in rural areas but are able to make significant contributions to addressing the healthcare needs of the people within the area of the diocese and beyond.
He further explained that, the inauguration of the Diocesan Health Board, the first ever-governing body for Catholic Health Facilities in the Diocese marks the dawn of a new era and forms part of efforts being made to restructure and strengthen the Diocesan Health Service in line with the vision of the Ghana Catholic Bishop’s Conference in respect of a soon to be launched Catholic Health Service trust which will also be better positioned to enter into Direct negotiations with the Government of Ghana in areas of interests.
Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier disclosed that, Chairpersons of the various Arch/Diocesan Health Boards will constitute the National Advisory board of the Catholic Health Service Trust adding that, the inauguration of the Diocesan health board is a response to the vision of their Diocesan strategic plan which outlines the urgent need for the Diocese to reorganize and restructure the social services the Church renders to the people especially in the area of health to promote greater access and quality of health care.
The Bishop however lamented that, despite the hard work and dedication of the staff at the various Diocesan Health facilities over the past 27 years of the existence of the diocese, they have not witnessed much growth in their institutions, a situation the Bishop attributed to weak administrative and management systems, weak financial planning and Lack of prudent and efficient management which he said has impacted negatively on resource mobilization and management and called for the need for more professionalism in managing their health facilities.
He also mentioned, weak networking, collaboration and synergy among diocesan health institutions, Issues of team work and Inadequate physical structures being some of the challenges being faced at their facilities.
The Bishop used the occasion of the inauguration of the new board to draw the attention of the members to the current challenges confronting the Catholic health facilities which he included the issue of resource mobilization both economic and human capital which is making it difficult to respond adequately to the current needs of the facilities.
He also pointed to issues relating to human resource development and some challenges in personal management, inadequate infrastructure and appropriate equipment, provision of necessary logistics.
He noted that, he has great expectations that the new board will work extremely hard to enhance the growth and development of the health sector of the Diocese and exhort them to work assiduously to strengthen the Diocesan Health Service.
He thanked the board members for accepting their new responsibilities saying it demonstrates their interest and commitment to support the Diocese in it’s efforts to promote greater access and quality health care for the sick which was a significant part of the mission of Jesus Christ.
The nine member Diocesan health service board Chaired by Professor Juventus N. Ziem as part of it’s mandate will be responsible for the following;
- *Give strategic direction to the facilities and support the management to come up with strategic plans for efficient running and development of the Catholic health institutions.
- *The board shall put in place policies to ensure good governance.
- *The board shall also ensure the delivery of quality and affordable clinical care and service delivery.
- *The board is also mandated to support management of Catholic facilities to aggressively mobilize resources for the development of the facilities.
- *The board will also network to draw staff to the Diocesan health facilities.
- Pay attention to staff performance appraisal at all levels including heads of facilities and
- * Foster partnership and effective collaboration with the regional health Directorate , CHAG, traditional Authorities, women, youth groups and international organizations working in the health sector.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by heads of Catholic health facilities across the Diocese of Damongo.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Kumatey Gorden/0243531604
