Ghana has been hailed for its commitment to provide universal health coverage (UHC) and better quality health care for its people.
While addressing the 2018 National Health Summit in Accra, the Africa Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Matshidiso Moeti on Monday exuded confidence with the process that the health ministry and health development stakeholders in Ghana followed in reviewing the performance of the health sector.
She further added that it is was an excellent way to bring everyone together to reflect on achievements, results and challenges.
“I believe this is something all our countries should be doing,” Moeti said, expressing the confidence that lessons emerging from the discussions would make the necessary adjustments to improving the health of the citizenry.
The goal of the five-day event, which has assembled health experts, policy makers and development partners, is to ensure Ghana harnesses the necessary partnerships and lessons across the regions that would ensure it achieves UHC using innovative approaches.
Also present was Ghana’s Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia who noted that Ghana was looking at innovative ways to deliver blood supplies as well as essential medicines to remote areas.
This he said would be done through the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the coming week to put the technology into effect
“As the rains come in, some areas are going to be cut off. Do we allow mothers to die because we cannot have blood supplies or essential medicines?” he asked.
“So, I’m glad to report that Ghana, I think this week, will be signing an MOU and by the middle of this year or maybe by September we will join Malawi and Rwanda in using drone technology to deliver blood supplies and essential medicines,” Bawumia said.
The summit also coincides with the launch of the African Immunization Week (AVW) which has been instituted in Ghana to celebrate the health of children through vaccination.
The initiative provides a unique opportunity for countries and partners to strengthen national immunization programs by using the power of advocacy and partnerships.
