Demonstrators worried over attainment of MDGs
About 200 people staged a demonstration in Accra on Tuesday to register their displeasure at challenges affecting the attainment of universal access to healthcare delivery in the country.
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The demonstration also served as a clarion call to the government to implement favourable policies that would ensure that the country attained the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4, 5 and 6.
MDGs 4,5 and 6 focus on child mortality, improving maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS infections and other diseases.
The march, which was organised under the auspices of two non-governmental organisations (NGOs); Mamaye Advocacy Coalition and the Universal Access to Healthcare Campaign, started from the Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle at about 9:15 a.m. and ended at the Centre for National Culture.
The demonstrators, who danced to brass band music, carried placards some of which read, “Mr President, it’s time to honour our Abuja promise of 15 per cent funding for health care”, “Politicians stop the talk. Act now!”, “Ministry of Finance, NHIS is dying, save it!” and “I pledge to stand up for pregnant women.”
Petition
After the peaceful march, the Communications Manager of the Mamaye Campaign, Mr Derrick Romeo Adogla, presented a petition to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health (MOH), Mrs Salimata Abdul-Salam, who represented the Minister of Health.
The petition said the country was plagued with challenges that pertained to the achievement of MDGs 4, 5 and 6 and attributed the development to inadequate political will, the lack of reliable and consistent baseline data, huge funding gaps and poor coordination among tiers of government, among others.
It called on the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to, as a matter of urgency, prioritise the health sector and strengthen the policy and legal framework for maternal, newborn and primary healthcare services.
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The petition also appealed to the GHS to liaise with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to ensure the timely release of funds for the sector to prevent strikes by health professionals.
Government initiative
Mrs Salimata Abdul-Salam commended the demonstrators for championing the rights of mothers and babies.
She explained that the government and its development partners had taken some initiatives to increase access to maternal and newborn health, as well as improve its quality.
She mentioned the National Health Insurance Scheme, under which pregnant and post natal women received free treatment, and free immunisation as some of the initiatives.