By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Savannah Regional Director of Ghana Health Service, Dr John Ekow Otoo says, lack of decent accommodation is driving away health workers from the Savannah Region. According to him, the situation has become a major challenge, undermining healthcare delivery in the newly created region.
Dr. Otoo made the remarks at the launch of the World Day of the Sick at St Anne’s Catholic Hospital in Damongo, held under the theme “The Compassion of the Samaritan: Loving by Bearing Another’s Pain.”
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the event, Dr Otoo said the absence of suitable and affordable housing discourages health professionals from accepting postings to the region and affects staff retention.
He called on chiefs and other traditional stakeholders to mobilise private individuals and communities to invest in rentable accommodation to support health workers.
“Health workers in the region have a challenge of finding decent accommodation, and we think that one of the ways we can speedily help address this issue, apart from the government agencies consciously making efforts, is also encouraging the chiefs and the people of the land to encourage people to build rentable accommodation,” he said.
Dr Otoo also disclosed that the Regional Health Directorate is intensifying its focus on mental health, as well as tackling adolescent and youth involvement in illicit drug use, which he said significantly contributes to road traffic accidents in the region.
