The World Health Organization (WHO), Ghana will sign a memorandum of understanding with the University of Ghana through the College of Sciences, with funding from the United-Nations Multi Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) to strengthen health economics, research and data analytics capabilities of Ministry of Health and its agencies towards health systems strengthening.
The first cohort is made up of thirty (30) participants selected from the Ministry of Health and agencies, including the Chief Director, Directors of MoH, CEOs as well as Deputy Directors from the agencies.
Under this programme, twenty (20) policy makers, advisors and analyst in the health sector will be sponsored to pursue a one-year master’s in health economics at the school of Public Health in the 2021/2022 academic year.
In addition to the academic programme, the School of Public Health (SPH) will also support the MoH and its agencies through health financing, economic analysis, economic evaluations and data analytics to build robust, resilient and responsive health systems and services that can sustain equitable delivery of integrated packages of essential services of good quality, that enable vital access for all individuals, communities and populations.
The country representative of the WHO, Dr. Francis Kasolo said “it is expected that development partners will buy-in into this initiative by channeling critical Technical Assistance through the University of Ghana and other academic institutions as a way of transferring and sustaining skills and knowledge”.
He added that the WHO will continue to advocate with development partners, policy makers for a budget item for building technical capacity on the essential technical skills that are important to the successful implementation of the Universal Health Coverage roadmap.
A deputy minister for health, Madam Tina Mensah on her part said the capacities being enhanced in the health sector will ultimately improve overall system governance.
“We as leaders need to have an idealized influence, inspirational motivation, and individual consideration of the staff in our organization in order to achieve our goals. The success of the Ghana Health Sector depends on its people the most valuable of its assets”. She said
She continued that “it is my hope that as you go through this programme you will be equipped with new ideas, new ways of working, empowering and unlocking the potential in people. The pace of technological change necessitates a fluid, flexible approach, a shift in thinking and a willingness of leaders to be ready for on-going transformation of their organizations”.
This holistic approach to leadership development was first developed for WHO Africa Regional Office staff. Following its success, the Regional Committee of 2019 recommended that the programme be extended to Member States. It was first piloted in Congo in 2020.
The Director for Programme Management at AFRO, Dr. Joseph Cabore expressed gratitude to the government of Ghana for its effort in introducing extensive changes to health sector governance through the program.
“The Ministry of Health is working with the WHO country office to design a bold, relevant and timely program which will contribute to making the Ghana Health leadership community more results-oriented, accountable and better equipped to deliver on their mandate of improving the health of every Ghanaian”. He said
