Ho, April. 16, GNA- The Volta Region has for the last four years recorded no yellow fever cases, while the incidence of measles has also decreased with "a zero case fatality rate for the past three years," Dr Andrew Arde-Acquah, Volta Regional Director of Health Services said on Friday.

Dr. Arde-Acquah who was addressing an awards night of the Service last Friday, however said malaria continues to be the number one killer of people in the region.

He said the resurgence of guinea worm in some endemic communities had also been brought under control.

Dr Arde-Acquah therefore called on all staff to pull up their sleeves for the task ahead to ensure that people in the region enjoy good health.

"It is our responsibility to do that for which the taxpayer pays us. Let us, therefore, work had to lift up our performance in the course of the year to justify the remunerations that we enjoy," he said.

Dr Arde-Acquah noted that the successful implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was a new challenge for the regional health service and called on all stakeholders to do away with negative practices and attitudes that could affect the effective take-off of the scheme in the region.

He thus enjoined managements of hospitals and clinics to lift up their quality assurance programmes and provide quality service that would repose confidence in their patrons and motivate them to continue with regular payment of premiums.

Dr Arde-Acquah listed high infant morbidity and mortality rates, poor nutritional status of people especially of children, low doctor/patient ratio, obsolete medical equipment and lack of accommodation as some of the challenges the health sector in the region was contending with.

He also expressed concern about the generally poor environmental health sanitation and absence of good drinking water in some communities in the region.

Dr Arde-Acquah regretted that, "when one compares the regional indicators of performance... with those of other regions, the region is then seen to be falling behind".

Mr Mawutor Goh, Ho Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) in a keynote address underscored the importance of health services to nation building.

He therefore, expressed government's preparedness to continue its support to the service to enable it to provide accessible health delivery to the citizenry.

Mr Goh was unhappy with the high infant mortality rate and malaria cases in the region and called for concerted efforts from all to remedy the situation.

He also noted that there had been periodic complaints from patients about poor service delivery by some health personnel and asked that management put in place mechanisms to protect its hard won reputation. On nurses' Additional Duty Hour Allowance (ADHA), Mr Goh said it had come to stay, and that personnel need not refuse to work when its payment is delayed.

In all, 21 health professionals in the region were given awards from the Best Sub-District Health Worker to the Best Worker in Health Training Institutions, with the Best Regional Hospital Worker going to

Mr John Tampori, a Senior Medical Officer.

Miss Leticia Ati emerged the best worker at the Regional Health Directorate.

Ketu District Hospital came on top as the Best District Hospital, with the best District Health Management Team going to Kpando District Health Directorate, and Kpassa Health Centre as the best Health Centre.

Togbui Anikpi II, Dufia of Ho Heve, who chaired the function, commended the management of the Regional Health Services for coming up with the initiative to boost morale of health personnel to stay in the region.