Accra:Savannah The Information Services Department (ISD) has launched a comprehensive public sensitization campaign throughout the Savannah Region to promote the government's Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) initiative. This campaign aims to inform and engage stakeholders about the initiative's benefits and implementation.
According to Ghana News Agency, the campaign was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service. The initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance cooperation and collective action for the successful implementation of the policy. The awareness drive reached various stakeholders, including traditional leaders, religious groups, health professionals, market women, students, and the general public across all seven districts in the region.
Engagements were facilitated in various community spaces such as mosques, churches, chiefs' palaces, markets, schools, and community information centers. Information officers and officials from the ISD head office led the sessions, educating participants on the objectives of the FPHC initiative, how to access the services, and the range of services available. Additionally, the team visited health facilities to interact with health workers and identify any challenges in the initiative's implementation.
The FPHC initiative is currently operational in 135 districts across 16 regions, encompassing 4,574 health facilities, including CHPS compounds, health centers, and polyclinics. The government initially targeted 150 deprived districts, with plans to enroll the remaining 15 by the end of the year. The initiative is expected to be expanded nationwide by 2027.
To facilitate the rollout, over 24,500 pieces of equipment have been distributed to primary health care facilities, and 5,000 community health worker bags with basic equipment for home services have been delivered. The initiative focuses on primary-level services and aims to complement the National Health Insurance Scheme by reducing preventable and treatable conditions.
As part of the campaign, ISD officers visited Mr. Yakubu Yussif Castro, West Gonja Municipal Chief Executive, to brief him on the sensitization efforts. Reverend Charlotte Hanson, Head of Public Relations Coordinating Division at the ISD, emphasized the initiative's role in the government's health sector reforms. She encouraged residents to utilize the initiative for accessing basic health care without financial barriers. Mr. Frank Asiedu, Head of Public Education Campaign at the ISD, called on duty-bearers and stakeholders to contribute to the initiative's success. Mr. Castro praised the initiative as crucial for providing timely healthcare access in deprived communities.