Ghana Health Service to install new data base system

Koforidua, Sept. 11, GNA- The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is installing new data base system to improve on accurate data records for all the districts nationwide.

The scope of the system would initially include the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) data, Malaria Control Programme (MCP) and EPI. To that end, training workshops had been organized for personnel in the data functioning system in the Eastern and Central regions on how to handle the system to effectively reduce inconsistencies and inaccuracies in the GHS data.

The Deputy Director of the Public Health Division of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Aboagye disclosed this to the GNA in an interview in Koforidua at the opening of the three-day training workshop on Tuesday. He said the rationale behind the project was to move from manual recording of the health data to a more realistic module that would improve upon efficiency and timely presentation of reports from all the districts.

According to Dr. Aboagye, the system would gradually be expanded to embrace all aspects of the GHS data records to free personnel involved in the data work to do other work for the GHS. He said the project, that was being undertaken by Sterling Partners-Ghana would, to a large extent, address the issue of inconsistencies and inaccuracies of data, which, he said was normal in human dealings in the GHS and called on the trainees to take the workshop seriously.

Dr. Aboagye said; "in this time of Information Technology", GHS should not be found lagging behind, adding that, the system would create space since book records would be no more.

The Projects Coordinator of Sterling Partners-Ghana, Mr Lesley Botchway, said the system would have security features that would not be easily manipulated for any personal interest. The trainees would be taken through the system installation, functioning of the system and how to feed the system with the data.