Irregular supply of premix fuel affecting health outreach programmes - GHS

The Ada East District Health Directorate has disclosed that the irregular supply of premix fuel to coastal communities is negatively affecting health outreach programmes in the island places in the area.

Rev Dr Hubert Hounkpatin, the Ada East District Director of Health Services, disclosed this at the launch of the 2025 Annual African Vaccination and Child Health Promotion Week.

He appealed to the government to ensure a reliable and consistent supply of premixed fuel to support health outreach services and home visits to the over 32 island communities along the Lake Volta estuary.

Dr Hounkpatin highlighted the dire logistical challenges affecting routine immunisation, child health interventions, and other essential services in the district’s remote coastal and island communities.

“The absence of a dependable premixed fuel supply has made it difficult for our health teams to reach vulnerable populations in these communities,” he said.

He said this did not only affect the timeliness of health interventions but also undermined the quality of care provided, especially for children under age five.

He explained that despite having four service boats, the directorate’s operations were significantly hampered by fuel shortages and maintenance challenges, and that it was currently operating only one of its two functioning boats due to the soaring cost of premixed fuel, while the other two required major repairs.

Dr Hounkpatin indicated that even though traditional leaders in Padiatorkope had partnered with the Directorate to secure subsidised premixed fuel supplies locally, there was the need for broader support from stakeholders, including local government, development partners, and the private sector.

He called on community leaders and organisations to “adopt” island communities and help sustain the directorate’s outreach activities, which included vaccination drives, maternal health services, and health education initiatives.

“The Ghana Health Service in Ada remains resolute in fulfilling its mandate. We will not relent in our efforts. With strengthened collaboration from traditional authorities, civil society, and our partners, we can overcome these logistical barriers,” he said.

Dr Hounkpatin also used the occasion to sensitise carers, on the integration of the second dose of the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV2) into routine immunisation services, stressing its importance in protecting children against life-threatening diseases.

Madam Faustina Blewusi, the Ada East District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), urged parents and carers to make the health of their children paramount, saying, it was part of the fundamental rights of the child in addition to survival, development, and protection.

Madam Blewusi, also known as Mama Megbenya II, added that children could not take care of themselves, hence the need for parents and caregivers to take their responsibilities seriously.

She emphasised that the child has the right to good health, including nutrition, clothing, and shelter, which must all be provided by the parent in order for the child to get to the developmental stage where they would go to school, learn a trade, and become what they want to be.

She said the NCCE would help the health directorate to sensitise the public on its child health services during the African Vaccination and Child Health Promotion Week.

Madam Blewusi said her outfit would go to markets, churches, schools, media firms and everywhere necessary to educate the public on the need to avail their children for proper health care.

She encouraged parents to participate in the exercise and work with the health officials to ensure a healthy life for their children, indicating that a healthy child gives the parents peace of mind.

She cautioned parents against self-medicating their children, as that was dangerous for the health and general well-being of the child.

Mrs Blewusi further encouraged parents to maintain good relationships with health officials to be able to reach out to them at all times, to ensure healthy living for themselves and families.

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