The District Health Director of Talensi, Madam Juliana Anam-erime, has highlighted challenges in the district that are hindering quality health delivery. According to her, issues such as a lack of essential medicines and the absence of ambulance vehicles are severely impacting healthcare providers’ ability to serve the community effectively.
Speaking at the launch of the Network of Practice program at the Gorogo Health Center, Madam Anam-erime stated, “Mr. Chairman, I cannot end my speech without enumerating some bottlenecks hampering the implementation of the Network of Practice in the district and health service delivery in general in Talensi. Weak and inadequate infrastructure in the health centers (hubs): some of the health centers need face-lifts and expansion to accommodate the services they are to provide. Critical staff shortages further limit the health services available to surrounding communities. The inadequate supply of essential medicines in health facilities is a significant challenge, as is the lack of an ambulance in Talensi, which hinders effective patient referrals. By the time ambulances from other districts arrive, patients’ conditions often worsen, and in some cases, this delay leads to death. Poor road networks connecting communities and facilities also impede health delivery in the district. I therefore call on stakeholders to support us in delivering quality health services to the people of Talensi.”
The Ghana Health Service launched the Network of Practice program at the Gorogo Health Center to improve the quality and accessibility of health services in nearby communities. The *Network of Practice* is a system connecting health facilities—both public and private—within a specific geographic area to maximize efficiency. Facilities are designated as hubs (well-resourced health centers) or spokes (CHPS compounds surrounding the hub health center).
The Network of Practice uses the model health center as the hub to ensure that health centers fulfill their gatekeeping role in service delivery. The rationale for this approach is to enhance health service delivery by reducing avoidable mortalities through efficient referrals and by addressing healthcare access in communities. Additionally, the *Network of Practice* aims to alleviate pressure on hospitals by equipping health centers as hubs, enabling hospitals to focus on complex and specialized cases within the constraints of limited resources.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Samuel Adagom|Ghana
