Abura-Asebu District (central Region) -- Communities participating in the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) pilot strategy in Abura-Asebu Kwamankese District in the Central Region, have lauded the impact of the strategy two years after its implementation.

Reports gathered from community health officers, volunteers and some opinion leaders from 35 beneficiary communities in the district indicate that malaria infection has reduced while many people are now adopting modern methods of family planning.

This was made known at a durbar of chiefs and people of Ayeldu zone organised in honour of the Assistant Administrator for Africa USAID, Madam Connie Berry Newman and the Country Director for USAID Ghana, Madam Sharon Cromer who were on a visit to acquaint themselves with the progress of the programme.

The Community-based Health Planning Services (CHPS) strategy is a systematic planning and implementation of primary health care activities with active participation of community leaders and members.

In support of applying the CHPS strategy, the John Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programmes (JHU/CCP) has introduced a Community Health Decision System (CDS), which enables the community to compile data on health issues, prioritise health problems, plan and implement appropriate actions with relevant health institutions to improve health status of the people.

The CHPS strategy is currently being applied in many districts in the country, some of which are receiving financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), while John Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programmes (JHU/CCP) provides technical support through the development and provision of behaviour change communication materials and training.

Madam Connie Berry Newman, who was impressed about the progress of the project presented 13 Health Bulletin Boards to the 13 communities in the Ayeldu zone to be used in the collection and processing of health data.

She said "It is evident that the communities understand what is involved to be in good health and are making efforts to achieve this goal". Madam Newman expressed optimism that the strategy can be replicated for the whole country.

The Country Director for USAID Ghana, Madam Sharon Cromer on her part called for active participation of all community members to ensure the success of the strategy.

She indicated that to attain improved health status requires collaborative efforts of the district assembly, the elders and the entire members of the community as well as health institutions.

Madam Patricia Antwi, District Director of Health Services, expressed gratitude to USAID for its support and pledged to work harder to achieve the desired results. The Country Director for John Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programmes (JHC/CCP), Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey reiterated the importance USAID and the Ghana Health Service attach to the proper implementation of CHPS strategy and the community's ownership of the process.

The District Chief Executive of Abura-Asebu Kwamankese, Mr Andrew K. Mensah, who chaired the function, emphasised the assembly's determination to improve the health status of the people and urged the beneficiary communities to keep the assembly informed of their activities.