Wa, Sept. 4, GNA- Dr Erasmus Agongo, Upper West Regional Director of Health Service on Wednesday identified lack of residential accommodation and shortage of health personnel as the most pressing problems affecting effective health delivery in the country, and Upper West in particular.

Invariably, health facilities are put up in various communities without residential accommodation for the health personnel expected to work in those places, as most of the communities lack suitable private accommodation.

Dr Agongo made this known at the opening of a three-day half-year performance review and planning workshop of the Upper West. Those in attendance include district directors of health service, medical officers at the district hospitals, health administrators, nurses, hospital accountants and administrative staff of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the region.

The GHS in the region will take stock of its achievement so far as against the strategic objectives of the service, to enable it to chart a new path and also plan for next year.

Dr Agongo called on staff of the GHS in the region to work collectively towards the reduction of infant mortality by two-thirds, and maternal mortality by 75 percent by 2015.

He also called for sustainable management of financial resources for health care in order to achieve the desired objectives. Dr Agongo asked personnel of the Health Service to prepare for the smooth take-off of the National Health Insurance Scheme as soon as the Bill gets the presidential assent.

Dr Edward Gyader, Medical Director of the Wa Government Hospital said the effect of drinking akpeteshie, locally brewed gin, was having on the health of people in the region which has a record of poor nutrition.

He, therefore, called on stakeholders in the region to address the issue as a matter of grave concern. Dr Agongo announced that the ministry of health has opened a Midwifery Training School at Jirapa, with an intake of 52 students in February, this year.

The Regional Minister, Mr Sahanun Mogtari, announced that a meeting to deliberate on human resource issues of health institutions in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions will be held in the second week of October at Wa.

He commended health personnel who refuse the leave the country for greener pastures.