Area and Demography
The Central Region occupies an area of 9,826 square kilometers, which is about 6.6% of the land area of Ghana. It has an estimated population of 1,805,488 (2006 projection) and an annual population growth rate of 2.1% with 13 administrative districts. The region is the second most densely populated region in the country with a population density of about 176 persons per-square kilometers; 63% of the region is rural.
The Cape Coast district is the smallest in size but least deprived whilst Asikuma Odoben Brakwa district is the most deprived.
The table below shows the various districts, size, projected population and their Relative Deprivation Ranking (RDR).
Vegetation
Generally, there are two rainy seasons in the region. The peak of the major season is in June. The vegetation is divided into dry coastal savanna stretching about 15 km inland, and a tropical rain forest with various reserve areas.
Socio-Cultural Status
The Region is endowed with rich cultural practices like annual festivals such as Aboakyer, Fetu Afahye, and Bakatue, among others. An international festival, Pan African Historical Theater Festival is also hosted by the region. The region is also endowed with historic monuments like castles and forts. These attract lots of tourist to the region. The people are mostly Fantis, with, Akans and Guans, but the towns have significant presence of different tribes form other parts of the country.
Economic Status
The major economic activities are agriculture and fishing. Small-scale manufacturing also takes place in food-processing, ceramic wares, as well as salt and soap industries. The region is classified among the four poorest in the country.
Health Institutions
The region has in all 193 health facilities comprising 77 public, 100 private and 16 mission/quasi. Most of these private institutions however were located in the district capitals and other big towns. The distribution of health facilities did not favour the large rural majority. In addition there were 15 functional Community-based health planning and services (CHPS) compound in six districts.
Regional Health Priorities
o Improving Access to Health Service Delivery
o Improving Quality of Service Delivery
o Strengthening Public Health Activities
o Improving Efficiency of Service Delivery
o Improving Human Resources
o Improving Collaboration with the private sector and all stakeholders
Departments/Units
Public Health Services
Clinical /Institutional Care Services
Health Administration and Support Services
Office of the Regional Director of Health Services
Special Initiative to Increase Access.
Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS)
National Health Insurance
Health Research
Collaboration for Health
General Way Forward (Policy Thrust For 2006)
Strengthening Reproductive Health Care
Consolidate and strengthen regional Maternal Mortality efforts to reduce MMR to < 1/1000LB
“ Let’s make sure that every pregnant woman who enters our facility alive leaves alive”
Provide logistics including basic equipments for essential obstetrics care.
To pursue strategies to increase FP coverage.
To strengthen Adolescent reproductive health care
Community volunteers to play key roles in reporting maternal deaths.
Strengthening Disease Surveillance to Focus on Priority Diseases:
• Malaria
• TB
• Guinea Worm
• HIV/AIDS
• Poliomyelitis
• EPI targeted diseases.
• Diseases of outbreak significance (especially Cholera, Meningitis)
• To use CBVS to strengthen disease surveillance in the communities
Increase Geographical and Financial Access
Establishment of more functional CHPS compounds
Increase intake and retain staff by getting more private sector/NGO/ District assembly to be more involved in sponsoring of nurses and other staff.
To sponsor staff pursuing courses in selected critical areas like Anaesthesia, Accident and emergency, Midwifery, Medical Assistants.
Preparing general public, staff and facilities to be ready for the National Health Scheme.
Optimize free delivery package
Increase Efficiency
Reducing wastage by practicing prudent financial management.
To benchmark districts & facilities based on performance
To adopt more peer review mechanism as part of monitoring and supervision.
To adopt proper procurement principles in line with the Government procurement laws
To support sub-districts manage resources
Intensify Direct supply of drugs and consumables
Improve Quality of Service Delivery
Use QA findings to support decision-making.
Monitoring technical performance using routine data (self monitoring tool).
To seek public support in the management of our facilities.
Continuous Medical education based on relevant subject areas in the region.
Improving Collaboration
District Assembly/GHS collaboration is a priority!
We have to be more accountable to ensure trust and win more support for your district.
Allow public participation in management of facilities
Private sector and Ghana Health Service collaboration
GHS and the media- Newsletter and publicity committee
Vibrant collaboration with local NGOs i.e. Plan International, PPAG, World Vision, etc
Support from the ff partners;
EC/UNFPA/GOG; “Strengthening Community Based Reproductive Health Services”
Quality Health Partners, CHPS-TA; “Improving quality of service delivery and CHPS implementation”
Child Health 