The Public Health Department coordinates the planning and implementation of public health activities in the region mainly in communicable disease control and surveillance, reproductive, adolescent and child health, nutrition and health promotion. The Department comprises the following Units and Programmes:
Nutrition Unit
The objective of the Nutrition Unit is to contribute to the achievement of optimal nutrition of the people, promoting child survival, and economic growth and development of the region through capacity enhancement.
Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Unit
The RCH comprises reproductive health, child health, maternal health, neonatal, infant health, family planning and adolescent health.
Disease Surveillance Unit
The Unit functions to forecast and promptly detect Communicable/Priority diseases for their control through a well-coordinated and integrated system of ongoing data collection, analysis and interpretation and timely dissemination of resulting information to stakeholders for action. Data collection is done using tools/forms approved by Ghana Health Service and Disease Surveillance Department. Surveillance data collection is mainly done at the health facility and community levels by health staff and Community based surveillance volunteers and reported at pre-determined periods dependent on the disease being reported.
Disease Control Unit
The Functions of the Unit include:
- Undertaking effective surveillance, forecasting and controlling of diseases of public health importance, outbreaks, emerging and re-emerging threats and pandemics
- Managing epidemics: Estimate resources needed—vaccines, drugs etc. to control epidemics
- Assisting in developing strategies to combat epidemics in the region.
- Working in partnership with other public health units and stakeholders and the community to improve reporting of communicable and non-communicable diseases and their prevention and control.
Health Promotion Unit
The Unit functions to promote early preventive strategies, healthy behaviors and well-being through the creation of environments where individuals, families and communities are informed and empowered to live healthier and happier lives.
Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Unit
The CHPS Unit coordinate implementation of CHPS activities in the Region. CHPS is a strategy to deliver essential community-based health services involving health planning and service delivery with the communities. Its primary focus is communities in deprived sub-districts and in general, bringing health services closer to the community
Programmes
The key programmes that have been pivotal in addressing the major public health challenges in the region include:
- Malaria Control Programme NMCP
- Tuberculosis Programme (NTP)
- HIV/AIDS Control Programme
- Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)
- Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Newborn Care Programme.