Govt urged to improve health situation in UWR

The government has been called upon to put in stringent efforts to improve the health sector in the Upper West Region to enhance quality service delivery.

Government should also put in measures to compel health personnel to accept postings to the Region to improve health conditions in the area.

Mr Prosper Puo-Ire, the Upper West Regional Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), made the call at a News conference in Wa on the status of the health sector in the region.

He said the health situation in the region was not encouraging and emphasised the need for the government to step up efforts to improve the situation by posting more health staff to the region.

He alleged that health personnel who refused posting to the Upper West Region were reposted to other parts of the country and said that was a contributing factor to the falling standards of health service delivery in the region.

“It is an undeniable fact that the south is well endowed with health professionals than the north. How on earth, will a Director General knowing this fact, still post out staff from less-endowed regions to well-endowed ones”, Mr Puo-Ire said.

He alleged that in 2018 for instance, three Medical Officers were posted to the Region, but only one reported, while in 2019, 15 Medical Officers were posted to the region with only three reporting and questioned the where about of those officers who did not report.

On the new Upper West Regional Hospital, Mr Puo-Ire questioned why a Medical Director had still not been appointed for the new facility about four months after it was commissioned.

He said there was the need for the ultra-modern facility to be headed by an experienced and hardworking Medical Superintendent to ensure the effective functioning of the facility.

“It is proper to look within the region and appoint hard working medical personnel, who have served us, who understand our socio-cultural dynamics and who has respected the Upper West Region.

“It will serve as a motivation to other medical personnel to accept posting to the Region”, Mr Puo-Ire added.