Family Doctor Day marked

The Society of Family Physicians of Ghana (SOFPOG) has marked the 2015 World Family Doctor Day with a series of activities to raise awareness on the need for families to have a doctor that takes care of their health needs.

SOFPOG, made up of family doctors, started their commemoration with a short launch of activities after which they interacted with patients at the out-patient department of the Korle-Bu Polyclinic, which is the main training site for family physicians in Ghana.

The group also distributed free books on wellness and healthy living and donated medical items to the polyclinic after the sensitisation programme at the out-patient department.

They then proceeded to the Mercy Care Home at Sakumono to undertake free health screening and donation of medical items to the centre.

Dr Nii Ayerh, President of the SOFPOG, said the time has come to put Ghana on the map especially when a member of the society has been elected president-designate of Organisation of National Colleges Academies (WONCA) Africa region.

He said, “One of the benefits of having a family physician taking care of you is that you do not have to be changing doctors anytime they visit the hospital.”

Dr Ayerh said patients need an individualised care and also care as a family, thus the concept was to create a holistic medical service.

“This allows coercion from the family unit to the community and national level,” he said

Dr Ayerh, therefore, noted that it was paramount for every district hospital to have a family physician which is the backbone universal health coverage.

He said the idea of family physician should be supported as the society also mobilises support for health authorities to increase the intake of training so that all polyclinic and district hospital would have family clinics.

World Family Doctor Day

The Family Doctor Day instituted by the World and Academic Association of Family Physicians/General Practioners is dedicated to highlighting the role and contribution of family doctors in healthcare systems worldwide.

Family physicians are specialist doctors who provide personal, comprehensive and continuing care for individual in the context of the family and the community.

The Society of Family Physicians of Ghana (SOFPOG) is, therefore, an academic grouping of family physicians committed to educating, researching and playing advocacy role for primary care givers in Ghana.