On Thursday, 13th August 2026, Upper West Regional Director of Health Services, Mr. Josephat Nyuzaghl addressed the Media and other stakeholders about the 2026 Half Year Health Sector Performance Review Meeting and Regional Launch of Free Primary Healthcare Policy.

In his statement, he bemoaned the lack of Staff Bungalows to accommodate healthcare Providers for facilitation of quality healthcare delivery in the Region.
“Inadequate staff accommodation continues to hinder the attraction of healthcare workers in Upper West”

Mr Nyuzaghl acknowledged the receipt of Essential Medical equipment to expedite the primary healthcare policy.
“Essential medical equipment, has been received to implement the pilot phase of the policy.” And expressed harmony about the the decline in maternal mortality rate.
“Our maternal mortality ratio declined from 87.82 to 48.5 per 100,000 live births”

So far Free Primary Healthcare has been piloted in 10 Districts out of Eleven According to the Regional Director of Ghana Health Service.

Furthermore, Regional Director of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Mr. Rashid Mohammed Spoke at 2026 Half Year Health Sector Performance Review Meeting and explained that the authority is targeting over 150 Districts Accross the Country by 2028 to implement free Primary Health Care Policy, so far NHIA released GH¢35.1m to 107 districts in the country for Free Primary Healthcare.

Mr. Ambrose Naawa, FPHC Focal Person Made a presentation on free Primary Health Policy Concept and Implementation highlighting on how the expected outcomes including accessibility are to be achieved.

Meanwhile, Madam Florence A., Chairperson and a retired Healthcare Officer appealed for government to address housing challenges of Healthcare Officers in The Upper West Region, She encouraged Doctors from Upper West Region to return home and service in order to reduce the staff shortfall the region is facing currently.

Theme of this year’s program was dubbed Advancing universal health coverage through free primary healthcare.

Upper West Regional Minister, Lawyer Charles Lwanga Puozuing was represented by Pognaa Fati Issaka Korey, Coordinator of the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council and delivered a statement.

Healthcare is a very important investment a nation can make to improve human resource output According to Hajia Pognaa Fati Issaka Korey, She stressed that, healthy citizens improve output whilst healthy children learn better. Pognaa Fati Issaka Korey bemoaned some Setbacks limiting access to healthcare in hinterlands including financial constraints, extended Distance from nearby health facilities which limits timely access to healthcare and treatment.

“The free primary healthcare policy offers a unique opportunity to strengthen our CHPS Compounds, Health centers and other primary healthcare facilities so that quality healthcare can be more accessible to the people we serve” She stated

She drew the attention of Healthcare Service Providers to the importance of the free primary healthcare policy signaling that the Free Healthcare must never become poor quality healthcare.

Also, she made a Presentation to healthcare Providers on Key Health Service Indicators Performance Trends during 2026 Mid-Year Overview of healthcare Performance.

Lastly, Sensitization on Dangers of Illicit Small Arms and Gun Violence was carried out by Regional Programme Office of NACSA.

Source : Upper West Media App