The management of World Vision Ghana has reiterated its commitment to improving the country’s health delivery systems through community and social intervention initiatives.
According to World Vision Ghana which recognizes governments efforts to improve maternal and child health especially in the rural communities through the CHPS concept, a more collaborative effort will go a long way to help reduce child mortality rates.
Addressing a gathering at the official handing over of a health center and a mobile clinic van from KIA Motors and World Vision Korea and Ghana to the Ghana Health Service at Saamang in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern Region, the National Director of World Vision Ghana, Dickens Thunde said the project is a demonstration of World Visions’ commitment to improving health conditions of Ghanaians especially in the rural communities.
“World Vision recognizes the efforts of the government, through the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service to improve maternal and child health especially in rural communities. Government policies on maternal and child health have resulted in declining child mortality rates over the years”.
“This decline notwithstanding, a Ghana Demographic and Health Survey in 2014 estimated the infant mortality rate to be 41deaths per 1,000 live births and under 5 mortality to be slightly higher at 60 deaths per 1,000 live births. At these levels, one in every 24 Ghanaian children does before reaching age 1 and one in every 17 does not survive to his or her fifth birthday”.
He added that, “to demonstrate our support for these vital interventions, World Vision, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service and the District Health Management Teams, has been reaching out to several hundreds of mothers and children through medical supplies to complement interventions of the district health management team at the district level. Additionally, World Vision has been supporting the health sector through the donation of pharmaceuticals and other supplements such as anti-malaria drugs, multivitamins and folic acids to health facilities in remote areas”.
Mr. Dickens Thunde then called on all partners to support the mobile clinic arm of health delivery into the mainstream system.
“World Vision Ghana, World Vision Korea and KIA Auto Mobile working in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service and partners have provided technical expertise and funding in excess of GHS1,604,834.00 for the construction of the health center and the procurement of the mobile clinic van. We see the integration of the mobile clinic arm of health delivery into the health mainstream system as a step in the right direction which should be embraced by all partners and this is a clear indication and proof of our commitment”.
The project which is located in Saamang will directly benefit residents of Osino, Osino Zongo, Ampedwee, Akyease, Nsutem, Akyem Hemang, Dwenease, Abompe, Akim Juaso, Dome, Guampomani and Nsuapemso all in the Fanteakwa South District.