Deputy Minister for Health, Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, recently visited the Abesim Health Centre and the Abesim Divisional Council in Ghana's Bono Region. Her visit aimed to improve maternal healthcare and intensify measures to reduce maternal deaths. During her visit, Prof. Dr. Ayensu-Danquah toured the facility and interacted with health workers to understand the challenges affecting the delivery of maternal and other essential healthcare services.
The Abesim Health Centre currently faces significant challenges, including a shortage of medical staff. The facility has only one doctor and needs at least two more doctors to cope with its workload and improve access to medical services. Prof. Dr. Ayensu-Danquah called on stakeholders to work collectively to address the challenges contributing to maternal deaths and ensure that women in the community receive quality healthcare.
The engagement also highlighted the role of the Abesim Traditional Council in supporting healthcare delivery. The council has provided the health centre with a power plant to help maintain uninterrupted services. Chief of the Abesim Traditional Area, Nana Barima Acheaw, expressed hope that the Deputy Minister's visit would lead to renewed attention and support for the health centre.
Nana Barima Acheaw commended efforts already being made to improve the facility and expressed optimism that concerns relating to human resources and equipment would be addressed to enhance healthcare delivery. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between traditional authorities, health facilities, and local communities in reducing maternal mortality.
Prof. Dr. Ayensu-Danquah praised Nana Barima Acheaw for his support to the health centre and highlighted the important role traditional authorities play in efforts to reduce maternal mortality. She stressed that preventing maternal deaths requires close cooperation among health facilities, traditional authorities, and local communities.
The Deputy Minister also assured the facility that the Ministry of Health would work towards addressing its equipment needs, noting that the necessary support would be provided to enable the centre to offer effective and quality healthcare services. This commitment aims to enhance the overall healthcare experience for patients in the Abesim community.
The visit by Prof. Dr. Ayensu-Danquah demonstrates the government's commitment to improving maternal healthcare in Ghana. By engaging with local stakeholders and addressing the specific needs of the Abesim Health Centre, the Deputy Minister aims to contribute to the reduction of maternal deaths and improve healthcare outcomes in the Bono Region.
Key points
- Deputy Minister for Health, Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, visits Abesim Health Centre to improve maternal healthcare.
- The Abesim Health Centre faces a shortage of medical staff, with only one doctor currently on duty.
- The Ministry of Health has assured the facility that it will work towards addressing its equipment needs.
