The Bolgatanga Municipal Health Directorate has been adjudged the second-best performing health directorate among 15 districts in the Upper East Region for the 2025 assessment year, marking a significant milestone in the municipality’s healthcare delivery efforts.
The recognition was announced during the 2025 Annual Regional Health Sector Performance Review Meeting held on March 24–25, 2026, at the Regional Health Training and Conference Centre in Bolgatanga.
Delivering his welcome address, the Upper East Regional Director of Health Service, Dr. Med. Braimah Baba Abubakari, commended health managers and frontline workers across the region for their dedication and resilience, which have contributed to steady improvements in healthcare indicators.
He noted that the annual review process, which began from sub-district and district levels, serves as a critical platform to assess performance, share innovations, identify gaps, and design strategies to strengthen healthcare delivery.
According to him, the region has made notable progress under the Health Sector Medium Term Development Plan (2022–2026), driven by targeted interventions aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
“The knowledge and experience we continue to acquire challenge us to innovate and utilize resources efficiently to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all,” he stated.
Dr. Abubakari highlighted that monitoring and supportive supervision played a key role in improving service delivery in 2025, fostering collaboration, enhancing staff capacity, and promoting accountability across all levels of the health system.
Despite these gains, he acknowledged persistent challenges, including rising maternal mortality, staff shortages, inequitable distribution of health workers, and the impact of insecurity in parts of the region—particularly the Bawku enclave—on service delivery.
He revealed that maternal deaths increased from 40 in 2024 to 60 in 2025, while neonatal mortality also saw a slight rise. However, improvements were recorded in antenatal care coverage and a decline in the incidence of diabetes and hypertension.
The Regional Director further disclosed that the region operates 684 health facilities, comprising government, faith-based, and private institutions, all contributing data to the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS2) for informed decision-making.
He praised development partners for their continued support, particularly the KOICA CHPS+ Phase II Project, which has enhanced primary healthcare delivery through infrastructure development, provision of logistics, and staff training.
Dr. Abubakari also expressed concern over the increasing cases of mental health conditions, including depression and attempted suicide, urging both health workers and the public to seek early support and intervention.
He reaffirmed the Regional Health Directorate’s commitment to addressing gaps in staffing, logistics, and infrastructure, while strengthening partnerships to build a resilient healthcare system.
The recognition of the Bolgatanga Municipal Health Directorate as the second-best performer underscores the municipality’s growing reputation for excellence in healthcare delivery and reflects the collective efforts of its health workforce and stakeholders.
The meeting is expected to conclude with actionable strategies to address identified challenges and improve health outcomes across the region in 2026 and beyond.
Source: Bluewaves Radio 93.7 fm/Maurice Duncan
