The west Gonja Municipality Health Directorate has on Thursday 9th March, 2023 held it’s 2022 performance review meeting at the conference hall of the savannah regional coordinating Council in Damongo.
Annual performance review meetings are critical in assessing the performance of an institution as against targets for the previous years and to plan for better performance.
In an address, the municipal health director, Madam Gertrude Yentumi noted that it has not been an easy journey for them through the year under review especially with COVID-19 vaccinations, yellow fever and influenza outbreak responses that saw the sacrifices and commitments by health personnels, policy makers and stakeholders which helped them to sail through the year.
The municipal health director outlined some achievements chalked in the year 2022 and indicated that the first trimester registration have increased from 54% to 59% with Malaria under 5 cases reducing from 88% to 71% and construction of a CHPS compound at Kedendelepa by the municipal assembly and the commencement of a much desired lab bench for the District Health Center (DHC).
Under the performance review, Madam Gertrude Yentumi gave an overview of the state of COVID-19 cases in the Municipality
“During the period under review, suspected cases were 115. 25 people tested positive and all the cases were treated and discharged. In terms of vaccination, 83% of the total population have taken at least one dose whilst 67% are fully vaccinated against COVID-19” she said and encouraged all to either start or complete their vaccinations.
She also disclosed that the Municipality has recorded 35 suspected Measles cases across 13 communities but Unfortunately, 77% of the children were not vaccinated.
She further stressed on the challenges faced with her outfit saying “One major challenge had to do with the shortage of some EPI vaccines, that is OPV, MR, Rota, PCV and Men A.”
“The shortage has contributed to the low EPI coverage. The danger of the shortage is that a lot of susceptible children will be in our communities presenting fertile grounds for re-emergence of communicable diseases”.
Adding to the challenges, she said, staff indiscipline, lack of basic equipment such as HB machines in some facilities, lack of permanent infrastructure in some CHPS Zones, weak motor bikes for the outreach service, inadequate number of some health professionals specifically community health nurses, shortage of some vaccines especially MR and more.
Indicating that public sensitization and effective surveillance systems need to be heightened.
She expressed gratitude to all partners especially World vision Ghana for procuring MCHRB for the directorate , the municipal assembly for the comstruction of the Kedendelepa CHIPS compound, CRS for the support of logistics for CHS functionality, health volunteers and many others for their tremendous support to the health sector.
The Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Jimah Yakubu on behalf of the Municipal Chief executive encouraged health personnels in the municipality to share their best experience and services with colleagues to enhance proper and quality healthcare services delivery in the area.
He indicated that, health forms part of the three key areas when it comes to development in the Municipality and the municipal budget, “government expenditure will go into health” he said
He added that infrastructure needs of the health sector remains paramount in the assembly and mentioned some health infrastructure being undertaken by the Assembly which includes a CHIPS compound at Kedendelepa in the Busunu area and Emphasized that the MCE will be fulfilling his promise of renovating the municipal Directors Bungalow as soon as common fund arrives.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Gogu Edwin/0555588660
