Govt lauded for promoting reproductive health
The government has been lauded for integrating reproductive healthcare into the health delivery system.
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The President of the Population Council, Ms Julia Bunting, who made the commendation, said the policy of the government had made it possible for women and the youth to have access to essential reproductive health services.
Ms Bunting, who is on a two-day working visit to the country, said this when she visited the Reproductive Health Unit (R3M) of the La General Hospital which was established by the Population Council and Ipas, international NGOs that promote the health of women, in 2008.
She is in Ghana to acquaint herself with the operations of the organisation at the country level and assess the progress of efforts to improve the indicators of reproductive health.
Ms Bunting, who was accompanied by Ms Mar Aguilar, International Support Director of Population Council, New York and Dr Placide Tapsoba, Country, Director of Population Council toured the Adolescent Corner, the Theatre, the Recovery ward and the Manual Vaccum Aspiration (MVA), Family Planning and the Voluntary Counselling Units.
Continuing care
She noted that the facility was not only providing for the reproductive health needs of women and the youth but also general health care which would enable a vast number of people to access essential health interventions.
The population council president further commended the health workers of the hospital for their professionalism, commitment and dedication to duty.
“It’s inspiring to see what you are doing,” Ms Bunting stated.
24-hour service
In a brief to the visiting team, Dr K. Omari-Yeboah, Obstetrician/Gyaenecologist of the La General Hospital, said the hospital ran a 24-hour service.
He said the maternal health services were integrated and made accessible to all women within the context of primary health care.
Dr Omari-Yeboah said the hospital served a population of over 213,000 out of which over 51,000 were women in the reproductive ages of 15 to 49.
He pointed out that because of the services provided by the hospital, many clients outside the catchment area also accessed health care at the facility.
According to him, the current challenges facing the hospital were inadequate consumables and supplies to meet the needs of the large clientele.
Staff training
He stated that this year, the hospital planned to emphasise staff training and consumer care as a means of improving health care.
Dr K. Omari-Yeboah thanked the population council and its partners for the support which had not only raised the status of the hospital but also helped to expand health care to women and young people.
The Principial Nursing Officer (PNO) in charge of the Family Planning Unit, Mrs Emma Afari-Agama, who conducted the visiting team round the hospital, said the unit attended to about 40 clients on a daily basis.
She said the clinic offered services on weekends and 24 hours MVA services.
In addition, Mrs Afari-Agama indicated the unit served as a training ground for heath workers from other health facilities.