The Ahafo Regional Health Director, Dr Kwabena Boateng Boakye, has said the increased number of Covid-19 deaths is indicative of the rapidity with which the virus is spreading in the region this year.

He revealed 4 people have died of Covid-19 since January 2021, bringing the total deaths to 19 since 2020. The region has recorded a cumulative case count of 2,744 suspected cases, with 686 being positive and 15 active cases.

Dr. Boakye, however, assured measures have been taken to combat the disease in the new region.

"We have activated the various Regional and District public health emergency committees with the Rapid Response Teams and Emergency Operation Centres in a bid to confront the situation head-on," he said.

He noted they have also given all other thematic areas in the management of the pandemic a good level of attention and congratulated all the health workers for their high level of commitment to the fight against the pandemic.

"We appreciate the logistics and financial support by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and other stakeholders," he added.

Dr. Boakye made the disclosure during the maiden 2020 Ahafo performance review meeting, attended also by the new Ahafo Regional minister, George Yaw Boakye, chiefs and religious leaders, partners, etc.

The two-day forum is themed; "Improving quality healthcare delivery, focusing on maternal and child health in Ahafo region: Employing the District health family system."

The performance review forum allows the Ahafo Health Directorate and their collaborators to evaluate work done in the past year to provide strategic direction for health care for the year.

He said despite the debilitating effects of Covid-19, the directorate made significant improvement and performed well in Skilled Delivery (60%), ANC4+ - 91.5% from a target of 75%, (Maternal Mortality Ratio (125/100,000 LBs), reduced stillbirth rate (0.98% from 1.17%), suspected Malaria cases tested before treatment up to 98%, nurse to population ratio of 1:308 from a target of 1:450, etc.

He, however, said hypertension is still high, 40% TB case detection rate as compared to 44% in 2019, and a Doctor to population ratio of 1:12,511 from a target of 1:8,000 requires improvement, among other challenges.

As a new region, Dr. Boateng Boakye said the new health directorate has many challenges, including office and residential accommodation for staff, human resources, and funding to execute programs.

He appealed for support to aid them to provide quality healthcare to the people.

The Ahafo Regional minister, George Yaw Boakye, delivering the keynote address, assured the forum of the RCC under his leadership and government's commitment to improving health care delivery in all 6 districts of the region.

He, however, appealed for support from all stakeholders in the sensitization activities on the covid-19 safety measures while urging them to embrace the vaccine when it gets to the turn of the region because it is safe.

The Ahafo Regional Health directorate awarded Asunafo South District Health Directorate best-performing district -2020 holistic assessment, St. Elizabeth Hospital – best Covid-19 established systems and care, and Bomaa hospital – the best-improved facility for service continuity program. Each received a tabletop fridge.