Chiefs asked to encourage medical officers to serve in their areas

Osie Adza Terkpor XII, Paramount Chief of Avatime Traditional Area, has called on traditional rulers to encourage medical officers, particularly those who hailed from their localities to accept postings there to help improve health service delivery.

He said serving rural and hard to reach areas would help close health delivery gaps towards the attainment of universal health coverage, and that chiefs must play lead roles in ensuring that their traditional areas received fair share of health personnel.

Osie Adza Terkpor who is also the Chairman of the Social Affairs and Welfare Committee of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, made the call at a meeting of the House.

“Chiefs must consider the plight of their people and use their influence to get more professionals to serve them,” he stated.

He said the concern had been raised by the Ghana Health Service whose Regional Director told the Committee during a meeting that health indicators had improved over the past two years in the Region, and would require the support of chiefs to encourage personnel to deliver service in underserved areas.

He said the Health Directorate had also noted that despite the gains, much was yet to be achieved as far as immunisation campaigns were concerned.

Osie Adza Terkpor therefore urged chiefs to support efforts at getting people to grasp the importance of immunisations.

The Paramount Chief appealed to traditional authorities to provide land for health facilities where needed, help provide accommodation for health personnel and other professionals and contribute towards their welfare.

Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli and President of the National House of Chiefs, said the National House was working on identity cards for chiefs to address "identity crisis".

He asked the chiefs to "expand their networks to bring development to their areas"