Takoradi: Dr Marion Okoh-Owusu, Western Regional Director of Health Services, has stated that achieving high-quality primary healthcare will be a key priority for 2026, with a focus on improving public perception of care, especially during emergencies. She said a regional dialogue involving all agencies under the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders would be organised to map out strategies to achieve the objective.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Okoh-Owusu made this known at the opening of the 2025 Annual Performance Review Meeting of the Western Region in Takoradi, held on the theme: 'Achieving High-Quality Primary Health Care: The Role of All Stakeholders.' She noted that public health emergencies continued to pose threats to the population, citing a May 2025 Mpox outbreak in the Region, which was contained through a vaccination campaign supported by partners and the Ministry. She assured that the Directorate would intensify efforts to ensure accessible and quality primary healthcare delivery across the Region.
Dr Okoh-Owusu emphasized the Directorate's mandate to move beyond ending preventable diseases, aiming to advance from mere survival to thriving and transforming lives. She highlighted the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in the Region, including hypertension, diabetes, malnutrition, overweight, undernutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies. The Service plans to focus on disease prevention and management, reducing avoidable disabilities and premature deaths, and promoting health equity.
Outlining the outlook for the year, she announced efforts would be directed at strengthening community-based services, ensuring free primary healthcare, and improving health facilities to be cleaner, user-friendly, well-equipped, and operational 24 hours a day under CCTV-monitored environments. Dr Okoh-Owusu urged a recommitment to healthcare that empowers individuals to take charge of their own health rather than being passive recipients of care. She encouraged young doctors and nurses posted to the Region to view such postings as rewarding, commending health leaders, teams, the clergy, and the Muslim community for their support and collaboration.
The review meeting has been reformed to include holistic assessments and peer reviews to enhance accountability, share best practices, and promote community involvement. Mr Joseph Nelson, Western Regional Minister, emphasized the necessity of active collaboration among stakeholders, including health professionals, government institutions, development partners, traditional authorities, community leaders, the private sector, civil society organisations, and the public, to achieve quality primary healthcare. He praised the Ghana Health Service for its dedication and resilience in improving healthcare delivery despite challenges, highlighting the positive impact of health workers' resilience and professionalism on the population's health and well-being.