Western Regional Profile
The Western Region partly falls along the coastal belt of Ghana with a portion of the region surrounded by the Gulf of Guinea.
The Western region, located in southwest Ghana, spreads from the in the west to the Central region in the east, and includes the capital and large twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi on the coast, coastal Axim, and a hilly inland area including Elubo. It includes Ghana's southernmost location, Cape Three Points, where crude oil was discovered in commercial quantities in June 2007. The region covers an area of 13,842 km2, and currently has a projected population of 2,200, 148 with a population density of 150/km2 (390/sq mile). It has a coastline that stretches from South Ghana's border with the Ivory Coast to the boundary with the Central region on the east. with a coastline of 192km.
The region has fourteen (14) health administration districts with ninety (90) sub districts and is endowed with 634 health facilities from both the public and private sector that serve the populace at various levels of care. About 79% of the health facilities are publicly owned, 18% are privately owned and 3% are quasi and mission health facilities.
The region is the gateway to some neighbouring countries in the sub region; the Takoradi harbour and the ground crossing at Elubo. These points of entries serve as major export ports and transit points for some countries in the sub-region.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the region with about 60% of the population engaged in subsistence farming. The region is noted for rich natural resources, including gold, timber, and recently, oil, and a significant agricultural sector, with farming and fishing as major occupations. The existence of these natural resources creates employment avenues for the inhabitants of the region and migrants from other parts of the country, especially the youth who are involved in small-scale mining. The regional setting is a combination of cosmopolitan, peri-urban and rural settings and about 50% of the population are living in rural areas. A significant proportion of the region is in hard-to-reach areas with very poor road network.
The region is endowed with the largest rivers like the Ankobra River, the Bia River, and the Pra River in the east, with the Tano River partly forming the western national border. The area is known for the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the village of Nzulezo built entirely on stilts and platforms over water and the Ankasa Protected Area. There is a series of imposing Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Brandenburgian forts along the coast, built from 1512 on.
The region is an Akan region comprised Wassa, Ahanta, and Nzema. Wassa is the largest tribe in the region. However, the popular language spoken in the region is Fanti. The Western region can boast many beaches and mining companies. The popular Ghana Gold fields mine is located in the region at Tarkwa.
Our Mandate
The Regional Health Directorates (RHD) in general oversees and coordinates the provision of health services and implementation of health policies within its geographical area organized into districts and sub-district entities. Its mandate is to provide and prudently manage comprehensive and accessible health service with special emphasis on primary health care at regional, district and sub-district levels in accordance with approved national policies. The RHD also works with headquarters, its partners, and other stakeholders to increase access to health services, through 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
Get in touch with the Western Regional Health Directorate
Phone
+233 551111148
rdhs.wr@ghs.gov.gh
Address
Western Regional Health Directorate
Ghana Health Service, Ghana