The National Chairman of the District Directors of Health Services Group, Dr Kofi Setheland, has expressed optimism that the country’s oil and gas revenue would help to improve health delivery.
He noted that if government infuses oil and gas resources into the health sector, health care delivery would improve considerably in the near future.
Dr Setheland expressed the optimism in a press briefing in Takoradi on Tuesday, ahead of the 19th annual conference of the district directors of health services group, which would be held in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis from June 15-19.
The conference is under theme, ”Effective Leadership at the District Level the key to Achieving the Millennium Development Goals four, five and six - The Role of the District Directors of Health”
Dr Setheland noted that district directors of health, are field commanders, who implement government policies in ensuring prevention of diseases, injuries and ill health among the populace.
“They are also key actors in the implementation of the national health insurance scheme; promote good health through community durbars and other sensitization programmes that help in prolonging the lives of the people in the country“, he stressed.
The National Chairman observed that, over the years, child mortality and maternal rate, poliomyelitis, measles and other communicable diseases had reduced in the country due to the contribution and hard work of the district directors of health.
Dr Setheland said programmes lined up for the conference included sensitization of students on the dangers of tuberculosis in five Senior High schools in the region.
The schools are the Ghana Senior Technical High School, Holy Child College, Saint Mary’s Senior High School, Baidoo Bonsu Senior High School and Archbishop Porters’ Girls Senior High School.
This, he said, would enable the students to serve as vehicles to educate people in their respective communities during vacations about the disease and how to prevent infection.
Dr. Setheland added that, there would be lectures and presentations by the various district directors from the ten regions on the best practices in their respective regions.
A communiqué is expected to be issued at the end of the conference to Government on how to improve health service delivery.