By Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
The Upper West Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Damien Punguyire has commended the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for its unwavering commitment to improving health outcomes and promoting well-being in Upper West through the “zones of influence”.
Dr Punguyire made the commendation when he took delivery of some medical equipment from USAID on behalf of the Ghana Health Service in Wa. He pointed out that through targeted interventions, innovative programmes, and strategic partnerships, USAID has played “a pivotal role” in addressing some of the most pressing health challenges facing health service delivery in Northern Ghana.
In Upper West, five Districts have been designated as zones of influence based on some indicators. They are Sissala West and East, Diffiama-Bussie-Issa, Wa East, and Nadowli-Kaleo. Dr Damien Punguyire indicated that from strengthening healthcare infrastructure and capacity-building initiatives to advancing maternal band child health, access to essential healthcare services, USAID has made a tangible and lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals in the Upper West Region.
Dr Punguyire was very thankful to USAID Ghana for the gesture and pledged that the equipment will be put to maximum use and appealed for further support. “I want to make a special request to the USAID through MGCL and Quality for Health Activity for incubators to support the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Wa Municipal Hospital which serves as the referral hub to most of the cases that come from the adjoining towns and villages in Wa East, Wa West and Nadowli-Kaleo Districts”, he stated.
The Director Health Population and Nutrition Office, USAID-Ghana, Dr Zohra Balsara who handed over the equipment said the synergy between the Agency and Ghana has led to the strengthening of the country’s Primary Health Care (PHC) systems.
“For many years, we have made progress in Ghana improving the healthcare indicators. For example, the demographic health survey (DHS) 2014, new born mortality was high as 29 per one thousand live births.
In 2022, which is the most recent demographic health survey, it has come down to 17 per one thousand live births. This is a great achievement for all of us”, she noted.
Dr Balsara: “Today, I am here to hand over one million Dollars worth of equipment for Northern Ghana.” Some of the items donated were vacuum extractors, urinary catheters, delivery beds and pelvic models.
