Savannah Regional Profile
The Savannah Region is one of the two regions carved out of the Northern Region in 2019. The region is approximately 35,853 sq. km and is the largest in the country covering about 15% of the total area of Ghana with Damongo as the regional capital. Locally, the region shares boundaries with the Upper West, North-East, and Northern Regions to the North; Oti Region to the East; Bono East Region to the South; and Ahafo Region to the West. Internationally, the region shares boundaries with La Cote D’Ivoire and Burkina Faso to the North-West. The region is divided into seven administrative districts of which two are municipalities with 35 health sub-districts. The MMDAs have Chief Executives serving as their political heads. The projected population of the region as of 2024 was 718,041; 51% females and 49% males with an annual growth rate of 2.8% and - a population density of 17 per square kilometer. The population is characteristically distributed in small settlements with populations of 200 – 500 people. There are over 1,250 settlements in the Region, out of which about 17% have a population of less than 200 people.
Health Service Delivery in the region is headed by the Regional Director of Health Service (RDHS) and assisted by Regional Deputy Directors in charge of Public Health, Clinical Care, Health Administration and Support Services, Finance, and Human Resources. The RHD is responsible for policy dissemination, stakeholder engagement and dialogue, capacity-building, coordination of planning, and implementation of health policies and programs in the region. The BMCs under the RHD provide technical support, monitoring, and supervisory functions of health services delivered at the district, sub-district, and community level in the region. Under the overall guidance of the RDHS, District Directors of Health Services and Medical Superintendents are responsible for the healthcare delivery in the districts (sub-districts, hospitals, and polyclinics).
There are 2 Municipal and 5 District Health Directorates under the RHD headed by Municipal/District Directors of Health Service who provide supervision, technical and management support as well as champion the implementation of health strategies, policies, and programs in the districts and sub-districts within the region. The region has 257 health facilities comprising 5 district hospitals, 3 other hospitals, 6 polyclinics, 32 health centers, 12 clinics, 3 maternity homes, and 197 CHPS compounds belonging to the state and others owned by the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and private providers.
Our Mandate
The RHD represents the administrative apex of health service delivery within the region and is delegated to provide and prudently manage comprehensive and accessible health services with special emphasis on primary health care. The RHD in the execution of this mandate also works closely with the national level (GHS headquarters), health partners, and other stakeholders to increase access to health services, through the provision of health infrastructure, human resources, logistics/health commodities, public health, and clinical care interventions.
Key Responsibilities
Generally, the region implements and monitors health Sector policies, ensures effective coordination of activities, judicious management of health resources (human, logistics, equipment and infrastructure) and provides guidance and technical support to the lower levels. More specifically the region engages in the following:
Ensuring access to health services at the district, sub-district and community levels by providing health services or contracting out service provision to other recognized health care providers in the region.
Undertaking effective management and administration of the health resources within the region
Promoting healthy lifestyles and good health habits among the public through effective and targeted health education
Developing appropriate strategies and setting technical guidelines to achieve national policy goals/objectives
Implementing and monitoring health policies, strategic plans, protocols, standards and guidelines set up by national in the region
Planning and delivery of clinical interventions
Planning and management of public health programmes in the region
Establishing effective mechanism for disease surveillance, prevention and control in the region
Strengthening public health action to reduce impact of emergencies and disasters on health in the region
Supportive supervision, monitoring and evaluation of programme implementation
Human resource management (including staff welfare)
Transport, equipment and estates management
Data collection, analysis, reporting and feedback
Collaboration with key stakeholders in health (NGOs, Community leaders, Decentralized departments, CBOs, etc.)
Contact Us
Contact information for the Savannah Regional Health Directorate is currently being updated.