Archbishop Joseph Afrifa Agyekum, Catholic Bishop of Koforidua Diocese;
The Catholic Bishop of Koforidua Diocese in the Eastern Region, Archbishop Joseph Afrifa Agyekum, has advised health workers of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) to resist the temptation to go on strike to demand better conditions of work.
While calling on the government to improve working conditions for health workers, the bishops argued that going on strike would undermine the church’s mission to provide quality health care in the country.
He was speaking at this year’s annual conference of the Ghana Christian Health Association in Koforidua in the eastern region.
“CHAG’s commitment to 24-hour service is our lifelong commitment. We insist on the best working conditions for our employees, but the values of the no-strike convention remain intact and must be upheld at all times, everywhere and in all circumstances.”
Dear CHAG members, you have agreed to work for CHAG. We are a Christian community and an institution of the Ghana Health Service, working for the promotion of health of the people. In the worst of times, the sick and the needy should find comfort in us. They should find a place where they can be cared for.”
I always tell health care workers, “If you’ve never been sick, you may not understand what it’s like to be sick or not have access to health care,” he explained.
The conference marks the resumption of the Ghana Christian Health Association’s annual conference after four years of suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It will serve as a platform for CHAG facility managers, medical directors, frontline clinicians, non-clinical staff, and other stakeholders to review performance, identify common challenges, share best practices, and explore scalable innovations aimed at addressing emerging health challenges.
In his address, CHAG Executive Director, Mr Peter Yeboah, highlighted the vital role the Group plays in Ghana’s healthcare sector, saying it serves six million people annually through 22 health organisations and 1,300 health facilities.
He stressed the need for a paradigm shift to prioritise quality of care and human resources, rather than focusing solely on funding and expanding access to health care.
He said equitable access to quality health care delivered by highly skilled and committed health workers was essential to gain public trust in the health system and achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Ghana’s Director-General of Health, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye, noted the country’s progress towards universal health coverage, citing improvements such as increased life expectancy and reduced maternal mortality.
He, however, acknowledged that there are significant challenges, including total healthcare expenditure, quality of care and workforce allocation, revealing that 88 percent of health professionals are concentrated in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions.
The meeting concluded with a call on the government to support the CHAG facility in terms of expansion of equipment and infrastructure, as well as prompt payment of NHI claims.
Disclaimer: The views, comments, opinions, contributions and statements made by readers and contributors on this platform do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Multimedia Group Limited.
