District Directors of Health Services from across Ghana have undertaken a field experience visit to selected communities in five districts in the Upper East Region as part of their annual meeting in Bolgatanga.
The field visit, held on the first day of the three-day annual meeting, was designed to give the District Directors practical insight into the delivery of free primary healthcare at the community level.
The exercise also provided district directors with an opportunity to identify challenges associated with the implementation of free primary healthcare and use the lessons from the field to inform discussions during the conference over the following two days.
The Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, and other directors including Dr. Samuel Boakye Boateng, Director,PPMED,GHS, Dr. Salamatu Attah-Nantogma, Dep. Director, IME/GHS free primary healthcare Coordinator and the regional Director of health services for Upper east, Dr Braimah B. Abubakar, joined the District Directors during the field exercise.
A total of 261 District Directors from across the country have converged in Bolgatanga for the three-day annual meeting, which provides a platform for health managers to review healthcare delivery, share experiences and discuss strategies for improving health outcomes.
For the field experience, the District Directors were divided into five teams, with each team assigned to communities in one of five districts.
At the community level, the teams made up of the district Directors participated in activities including community registration, testing and counselling, and health education. The practical engagements enabled them to interact directly with community members and health workers while gaining a better understanding of the realities surrounding the provision of primary healthcare.
The Minister and the Director-General also paid a courtesy call on the Navro-Pio, where the Minister explained the rationale behind the introduction of Free Primary Healthcare. He urged the Paramount Chief to mobilise his people to support the initiative and take full advantage of the free primary healthcare services.
The Navro-Pio, Pe Denis Aneakwoa Balinia Adda Asagpaare II, thanked the Minister and the Director-General for the August visit. He also commended the Government for the introduction of Free Primary Healthcare, noting its potential to improve access to essential healthcare services for the people.