An urgent appeal to prioritise health needs in a bid to improve the delivery of health care in the country has been made to the Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs).

Mr. Justice Samuel Adjei, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, has urged MDCEs in Brong-Ahafo to take personal interest in the organisation and implementation of Community-based Health Planning Services (CHPS) Compounds in their jurisdictions, to ensure the realisation of government’s set goals and objectives for the health sector.

Mr Adjei made the appeal during the seventh matriculation ceremony of the Community Health Nursing Training School (CHNTS), at Tanoso, in the Tano-North District of the Brong-Ahafo Region.

He announced that under the Campaign for the Accelerated Reduction in Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) Project, the Municipal/District Assemblies (MDAs) in the Region had provided some building infrastructures towards the attainment of its objectives.

He added the Assemblies had established four residential accommodation facilities for health personnel, five Health Centres and 49 CHPS Compounds, while 28 more Health Centres, a number of CHPS Compounds, and additional residential accommodation facilities were at various stages of completion.

The ceremony ran on the theme: "Reducing Maternal and Child Mortality, the Collaborative Role of the Community Health Nurse". Almost 200 students were enrolled to pursue the two-year certificate course in Community Health Nursing, 132 of which were female and 42 male.

The institution, established 11 years ago, has a current student-population of 392, consisting of 85 males and 307 females, with 28 academic staff, including seven teaching assistants, 28 non-teaching staff, 13 temporal workers, and four national service personnel.

The Deputy Regional Minister said a gynecological theatre had been constructed at the Wenchi Methodist Hospital, adding that 136 persons had been sponsored by the Assemblies to pursue various courses with relevance to maternal mortality reduction in the region.

Mr Adjei, therefore, urged health personnel and students to exhibit a high sense of commitment and patriotism through selfless devotion to duty for the nation, by accepting postings to deprived areas to cater for the health needs of the people.

He gave the assurance that government would continue to make efforts to improve the conditions of service and incentive packages for health workers in the country.

Mr William A. Abotzabire, Principal of the institute in a welcoming address, reported that within the last three years, the school had made some remarkable achievements in relation to both academic and physical infrastructural developments.

He cited that their ICT system had been improved, with the installation of internet and data-based connectivity and intercom facility, to facilitate easy internet access by both staff and students.

The Principal continued to say the acquisition of teaching and learning materials, like a photocopier, smart board, three printers, four Dell desktop computers and their accessories, plus a fax machine and two projectors had enhanced the academic environment.

Dr Jacob Abebrese, Medical Superintendent of the Sunyani Regional Hospital, advised the students to place premium on their academic work to pass out eventually, as well-trained health personnel to contribute meaningfully to quality health service delivery in the country.