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The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says it is confident that by the year 2030, the country would have fully met targets for Sustainable Development Goal three (SDG 3).

SDG 3 seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
Touting the achievements of health authorities in Ghana over the years, the Director General (DG) of GHS, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, said minimal cases of measles had been recorded in Ghana since 2003.

He said measles had gradually become rare medical cases for new doctors on housemanship due to the successful immunisation, which the GHS had taken seriously over the years.   

Breakthroughs in eradication of diseases 

Dr Asare, who was speaking at the launch of a five-day leadership training programme for immunisation supply chain managers in Accra last week revealed that neonatal tetanus had since 2011 been completely eliminated. 
Ghana had also not recorded cases of Poliomyelitis and Meningitis since 2008 and 2012, respectively.

There had been significant reduction in cases of pneumonia and diarrhea while the Service had strengthened health systems through the provision of basic logistics and equipment, thus contributing to the reduction of under-five mortality.

The training programme was organised by Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) in partnership with United Parcel Services (UPS) and was to provide participants with requisite skills and competencies to enable them to effectively fulfil their roles.
It was to improve skills in people management, communication, project management, problem-solving and personal/professional development and provide specific people management skills instructions. 

Dr Nsiah Asare said vaccines, in general, were encouraging healthy lives for all worldwide. 
The Director-General said the institute was putting up measures and efforts until all vaccine-related illnesses were eradicated.
“We want to touch every child everywhere in Ghana to achieve this,” he noted.  

Medical drone technology to be launched on April 24

The GHS boss announced that on April 24, the Service would launch the biggest medical drone distribution centre in Ghana.
“Together with government, we’ll make sure that we use the drones to deliver the vaccines to the underserved and also very hard to reach areas in small quantities so that they don’t get expired. They will also get the right quantities at the right time,” he added.

Mr Magloire Achidi, Supply Chain Consultant of GAVI admitted that Ghana’s health system was one of the richest health systems in the region, adding that from the last statistics mentioned, the GDP coverage according to the WHO/UNICEF estimate was up to 99 percent. 

“This is by far the coverage of many countries in Europe and America so that demonstrates the willingness, enthusiasm and professionalism of you people who are doing that and supporting this course,” he noted.