Sunyani, Aug 20, GNA - Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, the Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, has appealed to health workers to strive to provide high quality service to ensure high quality health delivery. He said this at a press briefing in Sunyani on Friday as part of the second anniversary of the Sunyani Regional Hospital.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment to improve health institutions as well as the working conditions of health workers to stem the drain in the health sector.

Mr Baffour-Awuah said there was the need for public health institutions to collaborate with stakeholders including metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to ensure quality health delivery. He commended the staff and management of the hospital for their hard work, discipline and humility in the discharge of their duties.

Dr Daniel Asare, Chief Superintendent of the hospital, announced plans by his outfit to increase its output in 2006 during which time the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) expected to be implemented in the hospital.

He said problems facing the hospital are inadequate staff accommodation, brain drain of health personnel, as well as frequent power outages and power surges.

On maternal deaths in the hospital, Dr Asare said the rate had decreased and expressed the hope that by 2007 the hospital would not experience such incidents.

On the operation of the NHIS in the region Mr Philip Akazinge, the Regional Coordinator of the scheme, said some of the districts in the region have started operating the scheme and by September 1 the remaining ones would start it.

An official of the hospital complained that people living in the vicinity of the hospital are making use of the hospital's toilet facilities and that steps have to be taken to stop them. 20 Aug 05