A total of 13 nurses in the Upper East Region vacated their posts in 2024, Dr. Samuel Kwabena Boakye-Boateng, the Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has said.

He stated that apart from that number, 96 nurses were posted out of the region, while three resigned within the same year. He also indicated that with a target nurse population geographical equity index of 0.55, the region recorded 0.40 in 2023 and 0.39 in 2024.

Regarding doctors, the Director noted that the number of doctors in the region increased in the year under review, reducing the doctor-to-population ratio from 1:18,979 in 2023 to 1:17,833 in 2024.

Dr. Boakye-Boateng, who has been reassigned to the GHS Headquarters as Director of the Policy, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Division (PPMED), disclosed this in his address at the 2024 annual performance review meeting of the Service in Bolgatanga. The meeting was held under the theme: “Using Network of Practice (NoP) to Drive Universal Access to Quality Maternal Health Care.”

The event provided an opportunity for GHS management to review their performance for the year under review and strategize for improved health service delivery in subsequent years.

The meeting attracted officials from the National, Regional, Municipal, and District levels, including Medical Directors and Superintendents, Administrators, development partners, Heads of Health Training Institutions, traditional rulers, the media, and other stakeholders.

Dr. Boakye-Boateng added that despite some challenges encountered during the year, the region made significant strides in its performance indicators.

He stated that although malaria remained the leading cause of Out-Patient Department (OPD) attendance, the region did not record any malaria-related deaths, including among children under five years.

The outgoing Director urged healthcare professionals and stakeholders in the region to embrace and support all evidence-based malaria interventions, including Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), to help eliminate malaria from Ghana.

He further indicated that the proportion of deliveries attended by trained health workers was 78.4 percent in 2023 and 73.1 percent in 2024, exceeding the region’s target of 65 percent.

Dr. Boakye-Boateng added that the proportion of mothers who made at least four antenatal care visits increased from 85.3 percent in 2023 to 88.4 percent in 2024, surpassing the target of 85 percent.

Donatus Akamugri Atanga, Upper East Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, acknowledged the significant strides made by the Service in maternal and child health indicators, including family planning acceptor rates, supervised deliveries, and the decrease in neonatal mortality rates.

“Your commitment to improving health outcomes is truly commendable, and I appreciate each and every one of you for your hard work and dedication. Although much still needs to be done,” he said.