The World Health Organisation (WHO) has pledged to strengthen support for healthcare delivery in the Upper East Region, with particular attention to vulnerable communities and the health challenges arising from the region’s borders with Burkina Faso and Togo.
WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr Fiona Braka, said the organisation’s familiarisation visit to the region was intended to gain a clearer understanding of its healthcare needs and identify areas where additional support could make an impact.
She made the commitment when she led a WHO delegation on a courtesy call on the Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Akamugri Donatus Atanga.
Dr Braka said the region’s border location created additional demands on its health system, particularly in disease surveillance, cross-border coordination and access to healthcare.
She said WHO remained committed to supporting Ghana’s health priorities, including the Free Primary Health Care initiative and universal health coverage, while helping reduce financial barriers that prevent vulnerable people from accessing care.
“Our role as World Health Organisation is to support the member states in implementing their national priorities,” she said.
Dr Braka said WHO’s interventions would continue to pay particular attention to women, children and other people facing barriers to healthcare.
She also called on the Regional Coordinating Council and other local authorities to strengthen support for the health sector through advocacy, human resources, infrastructure and community mobilisation.
Border pressure
The Regional Minister, Mr Atanga, urged WHO to give the Upper East special consideration because of its economic and geographical vulnerabilities.
He said limited employment opportunities had left many residents vulnerable, while the region’s proximity to Burkina Faso and Togo placed additional pressure on health facilities.
According to him, people crossing into the region from neighbouring countries, including vulnerable persons fleeing difficult circumstances, also require healthcare.
He therefore urged WHO to factor the region’s cross-border realities into the design of its interventions.
“Once you have known that that is the case, it’s actually the matter here,” he said, stressing that the region’s circumstances required special consideration.
Mr Atanga also raised concerns about shortages of health personnel and called for more tertiary institutions in the region to help train and retain healthcare professionals.
He said the Regional Coordinating Council would continue working with health authorities and development partners to improve healthcare delivery and expand access to essential services.
The WHO delegation was accompanied by the Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Braimah Baba Abubakari; Deputy Director in charge of Clinical Care, Dr Samuel Aborah; Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr Zakariah Adams; and Deputy Director of Finance, Mr Yakubu Issahaku.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
