Hospitals in Upper West not committed to HIRD implementation process

Wa, June 24, GNA - Dr. Kofi Issah, Deputy Director of Public Health, Upper West Region, has said the inadequate involvement of hospitals in the implementation of the High Impact Rapid Delivery (HIRD) strategy was undermining quality health delivery. Child and maternal health care, he observed, were among the worst affected area, he noted.

The use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs), Focused Antenatal care, Access to Emergency Obstetric Care, Skilled Attendance at Delivery and Family Planning are some of the major HIRD interventions. Dr. Issah who was addressing a stakeholders' sensitization workshop, at Wa, on Wednesday, called for a multi-sector approach to ensure quality health care in the region.

Explaining the HIRD strategy, Dr. Issah said it was evidence-based and had cost effective interventions aimed at reducing child mortality and improving maternal health care.

He pointed out that the lack of involvement of all other stakeholders in the advocacy and community-based component of HIRD, was depriving them of the right to know their roles in the HIRD implementation process. He noted that to achieve results in the implementation of HIRD, stakeholders must be properly educated to understand their roles to stick to the principles associated with the implementation process. Dr. Issah mentioned the low level of knowledge about the strategy, poor documentation and reporting and the misappropriation of HIRD funds by the implementers, as some of the challenges associated with the implementation of the strategy.

The Deputy Public Health Director pointed out that if the region did not make a significant effort towards implementing these interventions, achieving some of the Millennium Development Goals would be a mirage. Dr. Alexis Nang-beifubah, Upper West Regional Director of Health Services, urged the participants to take the workshop seriously to understand their roles to ensure an effective HIRD implementation. He called for effective collaboration between the media and his outfit to educate the public on the implementation of the HIRD strategy. He also suggested the establishment of two separate desks at his office to coordinate activities of Non Governmental Organisations in the health sector as well as Traditional Medical Practitioners. He stressed that this would enable them to commend them for good performance and to also defend them in the event of any trouble, adding that, it would help in ensuring that the health of the people was fully protected from unqualified health practitioners. 24 June 10