By: Samuel Ayammah
Acute shortage of medical officers, specialists, physician assistants, midwives, laboratory scientists among others is impacting negatively on healthcare delivery in the Upper East Region.
The Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Emmanuel Dzotsi, who made the disclosure at the Health Directorate’s half-year performance review meeting in Bolgatanga said institutional maternal mortality in the region has witnessed an upward trend of 24 deaths, the highest recorded in the region over the past three years.
The Upper East Region currently has 57 medical officers which is a ratio of one doctor to 24,124 people. There are also few industries attending to pregnant women in the region.
Challenges such as inadequate funding for implementation of public health activities, inadequate logistics service delivery, are also affecting quality healthcare delivery in the region.
Speaking on the theme of the review meeting “Harnessing the Contributions of All Stakeholders in Reducing the High Occurrences of Maternal Deaths in the Upper East Region”, the Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Health Services, Dr. Emmanuel Kofi Dzotsi, said the constant refusal of postings by health workers to the region is impacting negatively on healthcare delivery.
Dr. Dzotsi said the region currently has seven covid-19 active cases.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Stephen Yakubu, described the call for collective action to reduce maternal mortality in the region as timely. He said another area that requires their collective contributions is the prevention of unwanted pregnancies.
Speakers after speaker charged residents in the region to continue to adhere to all the recommended safety protocols of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
