Tamale (Northern Region) 1st June ?99

The Northern Region Health Directorate has expressed concern about the "undue delay" in the execution of contracts on seven community health centres for which the Ministry of Health (MOH) has already supplied equipment for their operation.

The centres, located at Kumbungu, Tolon, Wenchiki, Kpalbe, Kpandai, Zabzugu and Makayili, are part of 10 new health facilities being funded by the World Bank and the Saudi Fund.

They were listed among 29 others to benefit from the equipment supply.

This is contained in the region's 1998 review of the health sector programme prepared by the regional health management team.

The 39 page document contains a profile of the region, overview of 1997-98 health activities, planning and budgeting, inter-sectoral collaboration and community participation, health sector performance and regional clinical services.

The report complained about the refusal by some of the contractors to co-operate with the regional directorate because they did give them the contracts.

It called for the review of the present system where regional tender boards give out contracts without representatives of the regional director of health services.

The report also identified lack of accommodation, under-staffing, inadequate transport and activities of quack doctors as the main constraints affecting health service delivery in the districts.

Despite these setbacks, the report expressed satisfaction that most of the health centres and posts provided 24-hour service, especially in the area of curative and maternity care.

Sub-district facilities also enjoyed continuous availability of medical supplies throughout the year, except anti-snake bite serum, the supply of which continued to fall far below requirements.

According to the report, all the district health medical teams (DHMT's) improved on their epidemic management preparedness by forming epidemic management committees and disease surveillance teams.

Many of the DHMT's are collaborating with non-governmental organisations in the training of traditional birth attendants and chemical sellers in malaria management.