GHS urges stronger financing and community role for safe child healthcare

Dr. Caroline Reindorf Amissah, Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has emphasised that delivering high-quality healthcare is a non-negotiable duty that requires financial investment, dedicated health professionals, and empowered communities.

Speaking at the 2025 National Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality Conference in Accra, organised by the GHS to mark World Patient Safety Day, she said patient safety, particularly for newborns and children, could only be achieved when resources are available, professionals uphold responsibility, and citizens actively demand better services. The event brought together officials from the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Paediatric Society of Ghana, development partners, and civil society organisations.

Dr. Amissah, delivering a speech on behalf of Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of the GHS, stressed that sustainable financing remains central to health delivery. “Without sustainable resources, policies and guidelines remain only on paper,” she cautioned, urging government, the private sector, and partners to strengthen financial flows. She further called for essential commodities such as oxygen, neonatal resuscitation kits, and medicines to be available at all levels, with rural communities prioritised to ensure equity.

Highlighting that patient safety is not just a professional standard but a moral obligation, she underscored the need for families to be active partners. “Safe care does not happen in isolation; it is co-produced with families and communities. Mothers and fathers must be empowered to recognise danger signs, demand quality services, and adhere to postnatal guidance,” she noted.

The latest Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (2022) shows neonatal mortality at 17 deaths per 1,000 live births, infant mortality at 28 per 1,000, and under-five mortality at 40 per 1,000. While maternal deaths fell from 875 in 2021 to about 805 in 2022, newborns still accounted for over half of infant deaths.

Guest speaker Dr. Isabella Ami Sagoe-Moses, a Child Health Specialist, acknowledged progress in reducing child mortality but urged continuous skills upgrading and stronger accountability across the sector. Also addressing participants, WHO Country Representative Dr. Fiona Braka highlighted the importance of clinical mentorship in strengthening healthcare quality, explaining that the colour orange, worn on World Patient Safety Day, represents hope and safety.

The conference concluded with the launch of a Patient Safety Strategy by the GHS and partners, aimed at improving healthcare quality for newborns and children nationwide. The initiative won strong backing from traditional leaders, families, and caregivers.