Raymond Danso, Manager of the Rights to Social Services Portfolio at STAR Ghana Foundation, has urged the government to budget for sustainable vaccines for emergencies in the future.
He emphasized the importance of prioritizing funding for primary healthcare infrastructure and staffing to enhance the quality of healthcare delivery.
Danso made the appeal at a convening on tracking the government’s commitments in the health sector.
The event was organized in Tamale by STAR Ghana Foundation under the Inclusive Elections and Accountable Governance in Ghana Project (Phase III) of the Gender Rights and Empowerment Project (G-REP), with funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
The event brought together key stakeholders, including civil society organizations (CSOs), health sector practitioners, advocacy groups, and the media, to foster evidence-based advocacy and policy dialogue.
Danso also appealed to the government to introduce a rotational workforce in the health sector to improve healthcare services, particularly in rural areas.
He urged the government to provide differential incentives for healthcare workers in rural and underserved areas by re-engineering the training and regulation of doctors to include extensive exposure to such areas. This, he said, would help improve healthcare access and delivery.
Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko-Amidu, Executive Director of STAR Ghana Foundation, advised CSOs to hold duty-bearers accountable by strengthening their role in monitoring the government’s performance and advocating for reforms.
He urged CSOs to develop strategies for tracking the government’s commitments to healthcare improvement in the country to help reduce health challenges.