Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare and Dr Patrick Aboagye speaking with a participant after the launch
The Family Health Division of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), in collaboration with key health partners, has launched the maiden National Maternal, Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) conference.
The conference is expected to provide a platform to update the health sector on progress of programmes that address issues on maternal and child health and nutrition, show case best practices and share new knowledge on policies and innovations.
It will also focus on reviewing and discussing key issues related to strengthening implementation of ongoing and routine interventions, as well as provide a basis for discussions with partners to identify areas where each partner will best contribute to advancing the common agenda.
Available evidence shows there has been steady decline in maternal, infant and child mortalities, and the prevalence of severe manifestations of nutritional deficiencies, but the pace has been slow.
The Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, in his welcome remarks, stated that it is well known that reproductive and child health and nutrition are core priorities for any
country.
He pointed out that in line with actions to bridge the inequity gaps in access towards the achievement of Universal Health Coverage and ultimately contribute to reaching the health targets of the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), the GHS, through the Family Health Division, is working with key health partners to hasten the pace of reducing the current burden.
“The aim is to go beyond improving access and coverage of interventions to improve efficiency and quality in maternal, newborn and childhood service delivery and address regional disparities,” he said.
The Director of the Family Health Division, Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Aboagye, stated that the norm has been to organise annual reviews, a regular
governance and accountability system which in the past would be in a national workshop.
He added that this maiden conference themed: ‘Strengthening Partnership for Achieving Universal Health Coverage in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition’ is the first of its kind to broaden the scope and increase partner participation and buy-in.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri