Day: November 7, 2022

Accra, Ghana—The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Ghana, Dr Francis Kasolo has called for concerted action to bridge the equity gap in the distribution of doctors between rural and urban areas in Ghana.

Delivering the keynote address at the 64th Annual General Conference of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) on the theme: doctor distribution dilemma—the case of Ghana and its underserved areas, Dr Kasolo described the unfair distribution of doctors and other healthcare workers across the country as a threat to efforts towards improving the health and wellbeing of all people and urged all stakeholders to take action immediately to address that.

“The inequitable distribution of doctors between rural and urban areas is now a crisis. It seriously undermines our progress towards Universal Health Coverage and we must all work together to address it”, Dr Kasolo noted.

Ghana has made tremendous gains in the doctor-to-population ratio, improving from one doctor to 17,899 in 2005 to one doctor to 6,500 in 2020

However, available data also show that 42% of the doctors are in Accra alone, and up to 81.3% of all doctors are concentrated in 5 regions–Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Northern and Volta regions, with the Teaching Hospitals in these five regions together having over 60% of all the doctors in Ghana.

“Over the years, Ghana has made progress in improving the doctor-to-population ratio, but we must remember that the unfair distribution of these doctors leads to unmet health needs in rural and remote areas resulting in a decreased life expectancy; higher preventable maternal and under-5 mortality rates,” he added.

Dr Francis Kasolo identified migration and retention challenges as some of the causes of the shortages of doctors in Ghana and recommended some key interventions in line with WHO guidelines on health workforce development, attraction, recruitment and retention in rural and remote areas.

“Providing differential incentives for those working in rural and under-served areas and re-engineering the training and regulation of doctors to include extensive exposure to rural and under-served areas will help improve the situation,” he said. “We must also provide deliberate opportunities for the admission of medical students from rural and deprived areas and provide financial support for their training.”

WHO has been supporting the Government of Ghana to improve the maldistribution of doctors and other healthcare workers in Ghana. This includes assistance to develop the multi-criteria deprivation index to be used to objectively classify the districts according to their relative levels of deprivation. This when implemented can address both monetary and non-pecuniary aspects of encouraging retention in rural and under-served areas.

In addition, WHO is helping the development and implementation of health sector staffing norms whilst also providing support for training needs assessment of health workers. WHO with funding from the UK Department of Health and Social Care, (UK-DHSC) is also currently helping Ghana to embark on a health labour market analysis to contribute to future policies and strategies in addressing the health worker challenges, especially the needs of rural and under-served areas.

Dr Francis Kasolo pledged the WHO’s continuous support to Ghana in ensuring that no one anywhere is left behind in the access to healthcare services.

“As WHO, we will continue to work with all partners to help drive the government’s efforts to achieve equitable distribution of doctors and other healthcare workers in Ghana”, Dr Kasolo assures.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

World Health Organization (WHO) Ethiopia has joined Ethiopia’s health authorities in their emergency response to a Cholera outbreak in Harena Buluk and Berbera woredas in the Oromia region.

On 14th September 2022, first cases of Cholera were reported to WHO Ethiopia Country Officer after four stool samples with culture grown for Vibrio Cholera were tested. In response, WHO Ethiopia, Oromia Region Health Bureau (ORHB) and Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) dispatched a multidisciplinary rapid response team (RRT) to the two Woredas. The team arrived on the scene on 16th September 2022, within 48hrs after it was first reported.

Resources including teams of experts (epidemiologists, public health officers, risk communication and community engagement officers & logistics officers, and others), medical equipment, and other resources deployed to support emergency response tasks, conduct a risk assessment, as well as provide technical support.

The surge team convenes daily meetings with the Bale Zone Public Health Emergency Operation Center incident manager to discuss the Cholera outbreak preparedness and response in the zone. As a result of this meeting, the Cholera task force has been established at Harena Buluk, Delo Mena and Berbera Woredas. In addition, Cholera preparedness efforts have been initiated in neighbouring woredas and zones. This coordination, led by the health cluster aims to ensure the optimal use and rational management of resources in a timely manner.

The surveillance team (WHO, EPHI, ORHB) jointly assessed the epidemiological evolution of the outbreak and gaps in facility/community-based surveillance. Conducted detailed investigation on the initially reported two cases and interviewed patients. Following the investigation of the cases in the Harena Buluk woreda, the team noted that all Cholera cases were drinking from the same water source.

The case management team set up tents for triage, observation room and recovery room. In addition to water access, the establishment of care capacities, and mechanisms to access health structures established. The team have further increased activities, strengthening the capacity and implementing a response to Cholera, which focuses on treatment and the prevention of infections.

WHO WASH Expert collected 47 water samples from the most frequent water sources used by the community; 21 samples tested positive for fecal coliform (water contaminated with feces). The team operationalized and provided support to 5 oral rehydration points to provide the first level treatment to patients. WHO distributed preventive hygiene kits to the communities and health facilities, where water was tested and supported clean water points.

The Risk Communication and Community Engagement team likewise conducted community-based health promotional activities and preparatory training for communities, volunteers and healthcare workers on Cholera key messages and the use of water treatment chemicals. A total of 4,000 community members of Harnea buluk were reached through community sensitization.

WHO preposition about 10M3 of Cholera, Severe Acute Malnutrition kits and Infection prevention and control supplies at Harnea Buluk, Berbera and Delo Mena Woreda of Bale Zone for the response.

After the campaign, the communities, on their part excavation a pit toilet to prevent and control Cholera. Even an adjacent homestead separated by a wooden fence in Hambela Kebele has a separate pit latrine. During the supervising visit, the WHO team, with Bale Zone Health Office Office Director, counted about 160 new pit latrines.

Thanks to the United States (USAID\BHA) and WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies generous contributions, WHO Ethiopia is able to deliver a coordinated and timely response where and when it is needed most.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa