The Principal Investigator of the Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative, KNUST in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo was invited to speak at this year’s annual conference of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital.
The three-day conference was on the theme: “Ghana’s journey towards universal health coverage; Addressing healthcare quality and human resource challenges”.
The conference addressed common obstacles, such as minimizing risks associated with healthcare of sub-optimal quality. It identified relevant challenges, assessed the experiences of healthcare professionals, and exchanged lessons and best practices within the CHAG network.
In a news report on graphiconline.com, Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo who doubles as the Pro vice-chancellor of KNUST highlighted some of Ghana’s healthcare delivery challenges, including inadequate access to essential services and shortages of healthcare professionals, particularly in rural communities.
“The concepts and principles of universal health coverage should be fully embraced and operationalized. While access to healthcare services is crucial, the quality of those services is equally vital.
“Disparities in healthcare often lead to unequal outcomes, perpetuating vicious cycles of illness and poverty, thereby eroding the gains made in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he emphasized.
Reiterating the WHO’s report on the imbalance in skills and uneven geographical distribution of healthcare professionals, Prof. Owusu-Dabo took the opportunity to outline the Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative’s mission to bridging this gap.