Tain: Community Health Management Committee members trained on Community Scorecard initiative

In Ghana’s quest to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030, a two-day training workshop was organized for the Community Health Management Committee (CHMC) members to equip them with the Community Scorecard initiative in the Tain District of the Bono Region.

Mr. George Asare Tabi, the Bono Regional health information officer explained that the Community Scorecard (CSC) is a comprehensive performance assessment and planning tool for service improvement.

Mr. George Asare Tabi emphasized that the Community Scorecard project empowers citizens to evaluate healthcare services in their areas, providing valuable feedback to influence policy changes and service enhancements.

This initiative assesses community facilities and enables Community Health Management Committee members, supported by CHPS staff, to develop quarterly Community Health Action Plans with timelines to improve healthcare delivery at health facilities, particularly CHPS compounds.

At the CHPS Zonal level, actions are typically assigned to CHMC members and CHPS staff, while Facility-in-Charges oversee implementation at facilities.

Participants from the Seikwa zone in Tain District gained an in-depth understanding of Ghana’s healthcare system and the CSC tool’s role in monitoring healthcare delivery through interactive sessions and group exercises.

During the training, District and Community Health Management Committee members evaluated healthcare services at Yabraso CHPS Compound in Nsawkaw.

The Community Health Management Committee Chair asked participants to rate their health service experiences at Yabraso CHPS across nine indicators on a 1-3 scale.

The nine indicators include caring, respectful, and compassionate care; waiting time for healthcare services; Availability of Medicines, Diagnostic Services, and Medical Supplies; Availability, Accessibility, and Quality of Healthcare Services and Infrastructure.

Others are Leadership and Management of Facilities; Cleanliness and Safety of Facilities; Conducting Home Visits by Facilities In-Charge; Conducting Home Visits by Community Health Workers and Assessment of NHIA Services.

Participants who spoke with Kaakyire Kwasi Afari of Sunyani-based Ark FM praised the Ghana Health Service for the training and requested additional workshops on health matters to enhance their skills and knowledge.

A female community health volunteer noted that the two-day training improved her understanding of the health system and emphasized the importance of effective collaboration with health authorities to provide necessary support at facilities.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com/Kaakyire Kwasi Afari