A baseline survey by the Diocesan Development
Office of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese of the Catholic Church suggests that
though there were a number of usable public health facilities in the Upper East
Region, there was no documented statistics on them. Also, access to public
health facilities is limited while a number of the public health facilities are
concentrated in the Bolgatanga municipality. The implies that the municipal assembly
will have difficulty in ensuring effective planning and implementation of
facilities since there is no statistics on the facilities notably CHPs compounds,
morgues, markets as well as water and environmental facilities. This makes the
maintenance of these facilities a challenge. Briefing Radio Ghana on the
interventions outlined in the baseline survey, the Regional Diocesan
Development Officer, James Naabil Tobiga, said the absence of a comprehensive
document on health facilities will lead to the duplication of efforts in trying
to put up same facilities at particular areas. He added that most communities
are likely to be faced with numerous health challenges including the outbreak of
diseases. Mr Tobiga, blamed assemblies for failing to employ proper
coordination with their stakeholders. He said the lack of documented statistics
of public health professionals such as medical officers, sanitary inspectors and
security agencies was a major concern. Mr Tobiga implored the assembly to come
out with a document on the professionals and ensure their equitable
distribution, particularly, in areas where their services are highly required. He
also tasked the assembly to sponsor more people for professional training and
bond them to serve the municipality after completion. He called for collective
effort of stakeholders including the National Commission for Civic Education
and the Information Services Department in reaching out to the communities. Mr
Tobiga, further charged the assembly to show interest in the Public Health Act,
Act 851 and constitute a comprehensive public health team and empower it to
work effectively. He explained that the survey showed a low level of
stakeholder’s awareness and collaboration on public health concerns and so the
need to work at it. He said as a way forward, it was incumbent on the public health
monitoring team to expedite action by educating the public on the act through
radio discussion and capacity building for stakeholders. Mr Atobiga proposed
that copies of the act or the abridged version be made available for people to buy.
GBC
END IA/
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