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Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, the Upper West Regional Minister, has tasked the regional health directorate to address the emergence of pneumococcal meningitis, cerebrospinal meningitis and other diseases in the region.

He tasked the directorate to find innovative ways to prevent the spread of the diseases which may be common across communities and districts.

Alhaji Sulemana was addressing the 2015 Annual Regional Health Sector Performance Review Conference held in Wa to identify strengths and weaknesses, successes and challenges as well as opportunities and threats in the sector.

The conference was on the theme: “The Status of Emergency Care Services in the Upper West Region: Successes, Challenges and the Way Forward”.

Alhaji Sulemana said government and its development partners, especially the Japan International Cooperation Agency, had increased the provision of Community Based Health and Planning Service (CHPS) compounds in the region.

He said the RCC and the municipal and district assemblies were working to make the region attractive to health professionals to accept postings there.

“For instance, the doctor situation which had plagued health institutions in the past had improved from seven to 39 medical doctors, while efforts are being made to encourage more doctors to the region,” he said.

He said the government policy of 100 per cent retention of newly trained health professionals was also being enforced in the region to improve staff strength and enhance quality healthcare services in the communities.

The Regional Minister raised concern about the lack of commitment of some health professionals to duty, pointing out that to become a health professional was a calling and not just a mere job.

He said the practice as health professionals could impact positively or negatively on society and called for an urgent need to correct bad practices among some staff to ensure improved health care delivery.