Saltpond, Sept. 11, GNA - The Mfantseman District has been split into 22 zones to facilitate the implementation of the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) programme.
The concept, which is being implemented by the Ghana Health Service (GHS), is to increase accessibility and utilisation of health care services.
Under the programme some community members would be trained in health care delivery to enable them to render first aid services before referring the patients to health care institutions.
Dr. Simpson Anim Boateng, District Director of Health Services in an interview with the GNA at Saltpond on Tuesday said some activities had started in four zones - Nsanfu, Nanaben, Narkwa and Ekumpoano adding that the centres at Nsanfu and Nanaben would begin operation before the end of the year.
He said five community health nurses, one representative of the Mfantseman District Assembly, one from the communities and two supervisors from the District Health Service had been sponsored by the directorate to study the concept at the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District where it is in full operation.
Dr Boateng said a full training courses would soon be held for the facilitators to prepare them for the task to enable them perform efficiently.
He expressed gratitude to Plan, Ghana and World Vision, Ghana for funding the projects at Namaben and Ekumpoano. The District Health Director said the European Union (EU) is funding the Narkwa project, while the district directorate of the GHS is funding the one at Nsanfu.
Dr Boateng commended World Vision for sponsoring a de-worming exercise for 50,000 pupils in the district.
Mrs. Trinity Brown, Public Health Nurse, who assisted the director in the discussion appealed to the communities to provide accommodation to facilitate the implementation of the CHPS programme.
Mrs. Brown said the project would be delayed in the remaining 18 zones if the communities rely on donor agencies to provide the accommodation.
