GHS opens nominations for 2nd excellence awards
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has opened nominations for its second excellence awards aimed at improving service performance and accelerating efforts at achieving quality healthcare delivery.
On the theme; “Sustaining partnership for effective and efficient healthcare delivery”, this year’s edition is expected to recognise a total of 2,578 individuals across the various service levels within the GHS.
It will cut across three broad categories including individual staff level award, institutional and leadership excellence awards as well as special awards for most outstanding health staff or facility at the district, regional and national level.
Launching the award scheme in Accra yesterday, the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said the institution of the awards scheme was not only essential to motivate health staff for their remarkable efforts but also to sustain national pride as Ghana strives for excellence in healthcare delivery.
According to him, the scheme was anchored on four key principles; public participation, equity, transparency and sustainability which aligns with the broader goal of achieving universal health coverage (UHC).
Dr Kuma-Aboagye appealed to corporate entities, non-governmental bodies as well as development partners to support the GHS in sustaining the annual awards adding that, “it is through these collaborations that we can continue to innovate, to find new solutions to our persistent problems.
The chairman of the GHS Council, Dr Sefah Bediakoh, observed the exceptional dedication and commitment with which health workers across the country deliver care, sometimes, under harsh conditions.
The COVID-19 pandemic, he said, further highlighted the significant role of health workers for national development which is why “honouring their efforts is crucial to inspire them to continue improving and sustaining the quality of healthcare leading to better health outcomes and socioeconomic development.”
Dr Bediakoh pledged the support of the Council to the GHS management to sustain the excellence awards to help strengthen Ghana’s healthcare system in the long run.
For her part, the chairperson of the National Awards Committee, Mrs Araba Kudiabor, said the Service was hopeful of building on the success of the maiden edition this year to ultimately build a resilient healthcare system.
She mentioned that with nominations opened till July 23, 2024, members of the general public as well as staff within the GHS could nominate persons who have performed exceptionally last year for recognition.
The awards, Mrs Kudiabor stated will start district level next month, then progress to the regional level by September with the national level awards slated for October 2024.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
