NHIA killing Health facilities

With the worrying trend of its indebtedness to health facilities for several months, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua Diocese has called on the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to expedite action in paying Health facilities for services rendered under the scheme, since the health facilities were suffering.  

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum

He made the appeal in an interview with the Media, Saturday at Battor, during the joint launch of the 24^th World Day of Sick between the Accra Archdiocese and the Koforidua Diocese at the Battor Catholic Hospital.    

The Bishops call comes in the wake of numerous others, appealing to the government and the NHIA to reimburse the health facilities for services rendered to subscribers of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

“As a result of the undue delays by the NHIA in paying health facilities, since May last year, some hospitals are grinding to a halt,” he said. “This is negatively affecting health delivery across the country”.

He reiterated his call to the NHIA to “…do whatever it takes to save the situation, because the hospitals are suffering.”

The Bishop with some dignitaries and awardees at the function

The Bishop who read Pope Francis’ message on the theme: Entrusting Onself to Merciful Jesus like Mary: ‘Do whatever he tells you’ (John 2:5), explained the importance of the World Day of the Sick, and said the day was instituted by Pope St. John Paul in the 90’s to raise awareness among health workers and the public on the need to be compassionate in sharing in the suffering of the sick.

Saying that health workers’ profession was a vocation, and a call to help alleviate the pains of the suffering sick, the Bishop charged them to make the care of the patient their utmost priority. 
He however, thanked health workers for the good works they have been rendering over the years, urging them to keep up it.

 

Very Rev. Fr. Francis Adoboli, Vicar General of the Accra Archdiocese, who chaired the function, underscored the need to for people to value their health since it was critical for the development.

He said the Catholic Church has since established health facilities to further Jesus Christ’s healing ministry to bring care to the many marginalised people in the society. 

In a welcome address, Mr. Donatus Duncan Adaletey, Administrator of the Catholic Hospital, Battor, reminded health workers to extend love, respect and be compassionate to their patients, since they were important.

Mr Donatus Adaetey

He said times have changed and patients have become more enlightened due to the availability of information on the internet, and warned health workers to guard against medico-legal issues because one big problem can cripple a health facility forever. 

Calling for patients to be treated with dignity, the Administrator, who is also the Executive Secretary of Health in the Accra Archdiocese, urged health workers in Ghana particularly those in Catholic health facilities to always use words of “welcome, thank you and sorry’ in their service. “In the face of capitation, it is only courtesy to patients that will attract them to patronise our facilities,” he added.

The Administrator announced a Gh c 1 per month Leprosarium project some staff at the Catholic Hospital were already contributing to support the inmates at the Ho Leprosarium on subsequent World Day of the Sick.   

Dr. Solomon Brookman, Medical Superintendent at the Hospital in a brief remark, said compassion was paramount in health delivery, and urged health workers to be compassionate, and be friendly to their patients.

At the programme, Madam Marie Helegbe of the Catholic Hospital Battor and Mr. Raphael Amuzu Dzameshie, of the Orthopaedic Training Centre, Adoagyiri-Nsawam, were awarded with a citation and presents as the Best Workers for the Senior Staff Category in the Accra Archdiocese and Kofordua Diocese respectively.

Likewise Mrs. Emelia Amoah, of the St. Andrews Clinic, Kordiabe, and Madam Charlotte Aboagye of the Holy Family Nurses’ Training College, Nkawkaw were also presented with citation and awards for the Junior Staff Category, for the Accra Archdiocese and Koforidua respectively. 

Mr. Victus Kwaku Kpesese, Executive Secretary for Kofordua Diocesan Health Service, noted the essence of the awards, and defined the criterion used to shortlist those awarded, noting that it was based on long term dedication and merit in their works.      

 

At function were representative of Traditional authorities, as wells reps of several health facilities and in the Accra and Koforidua Arch/Dioceses.

The Catholic Hospital Choir which sang melodious tunes to spice up the function was in attendance, as well representatives of health facilities.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nathaniel Otoo, Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, has assured Ghanaians that the authority was working at reducing the deficits in the scheme to make it more effective.

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Nathaniel Otoo, has given assurances the authority is currently working at reducing the deficits in the scheme to make it more effective.

The NHIA’s expenditure has been consistently exceeding its income for the past six years, and this situation has created huge deficit gaps for the scheme.

- See more at: http://citifmonline.com/2016/02/23/we-will-close-the-nhia-deficit-gap-nhia-boss/#sthash.8bKd8W6f.dpuf

Invest in your Children

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, has charged Christians to invest in the holistic education of their children because they were the future of the Church and nation.

He urged parents to teach their children values that will make them grow into responsible citizens, as well as teach them their local languages and encourage them to learn other local languages, which he noted will make them appreciate other Ghanaian cultures.

The Archbishop made these remarks at the climax of a three-day pastoral visit to the St. Agnes Rectorate at Dodowa in the Accra Archdiocese, after the children ministry performed a spectacular display in honour of the Archbishop.

“Your language is a gift from God, your culture is a gift from God” the Ordinary noted, charging parents to invest their time and teach their children to speak and read the local languages.

The Archbishop urged parents to “let the children also learn other languages in order to relate well with others in the Ghanaians society”.  

By learning other Ghanaian languages and cultures, the Sharped observed that it would enable children develop an open mind about others, appreciate Ghanaians other than those from their ethnic backgrounds better, which helps in fostering strong national cohesion and healthy national political discourse.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle in reiterating the appeal for parents to invest in their wards, entreated them to make their families conducive place to raise their children. “In families children learn to grow together, they learn to share and compete healthily” he said.

In a homily at the over three-hour Mass, during which he confirmed 57 confirmadi, the Local Ordinary charged the faithful to trust in the Lord’s providence to provide all their needs.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle with the concelebrating Priests and the Confirm

As Jesus Christ asked Simon Peter to “put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch” (Luke 5:5), the Archbishop in like manner asked the faithful to pray the Lord in the Lenten season to let His will be done in their lives and in their communities.

Rev. Frs. Matthew Mensah and Lawrence Agyapong, Priest-in-charge and Associate Priest, concelebrated at the Mass.

Among hundreds of faithful at the Mass were the members from St. Peter’s Catholic Church at Ayikuma; St. Hubert’s Catholic Church, Agomeda; and St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Oyibi, all outstations of St. Agnes Catholic Church.

Also in attendance were pupils of Rays of Hope Project, which the Archbishop tasked the faithful to support the project grow.

Earlier, the Archbishop who was received by the faithful into Dodowa with delight, paid a courtesy call on Nene Dzagbletey, Chief of Dodowa; and visited the various Churches under the rectorate to interact with the faithful and conduct catechesis with them.               

  

‘Listen to the Voice of God’

The Government of Ghana has been advised to listen to the voice of God in the way it handles the various sectors of the economy to bring the much needed relief to Ghanaians.   

Archbishop Justice Yaw Anokye, Metropolitan of Kumasi
Archdiocese. 

Most Rev. Justice Yaw Anokye, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi, made these remarks when he chaired the National Launch of the 24^th World Day of Sick at the St. Patrick Hospital at Maase-Offinso in the Kumasi Archdiocese. 

Drawing linkages between sickness and the health of Ghana’s economy, the Archbishop stated that Ghana was not feeling too well and said we need Jesus Christ to save us.

He therefore charged government to listen to God and do what God tell her in order to save the situation.

Archbishop Anokye said as partners in healthcare delivery with the Catholic Church contributing about 38 per cent to healthcare in the country, both the Church and the government must listen to each other to save lives.

He commended health workers for their efforts, and entreated them to listen to Jesus Christ and their superiors, urging them to be sincere in the discharge of their duties.

The Archbishop earlier in a homily at a Mass preceding the launch, urged health workers to invite Jesus into their lives, since He will help them overcome all their challenges.

He charged health workers to eschew lackadaisical attitude in their work but work with love and compassion, as well as respect the tenets of the Church in the discharge of their duties.  

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum

Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua and the Bishop Responsible for Health at the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, who delivered the Pope’s message, was on the theme: Entrusting Onself to the Merciful Jesus like Mary: “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn.2:5).

Quoting from the Pope’s message, he said “illness, above all grave illness, always places human existence in crisis and brings with it questions that dig deep. Our first response may at times be one of rebellion: Why has this happened to me?”

“We can feel desperate, thinking that all is lost, that things no longer have meaning…” he added.

“In these situations, faith in God is on the one hand tested, yet at the same time can reveal all of its positive resources. Not because faith makes illness, pain, or the questions which they raise, disappears, but because it offers a key by which we can discover the deepest meaning of what we are experiencing” he noted.

Therefore the mystery of the wedding feast of Cana for the World Day of the Sick, paints an image of the Church: with Jesus at the centre, who in his mercy performs a sign; with his disciples around him. Beside Jesus and his disciples is Mary, the provident and prayerful mother.

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum reiterated the Pope’s call that if we can learn to obey the words of Mary, who says: “Do whatever He tells you”, Jesus will always change the water into wine” and intervene in our sicknesses.

In an address, Mr George Adjei, Director of the National Catholic Health Service (NCHS), renewed the pledge of the Catholic Health Service to work hard in healthcare delivery in spite of the daunting challenges including maternal and neonatal mortalities.

Mr George Adjei, Esq.

The Director stated that with 36 Hospitals, 70 Clinics, 10 Nursing and Midwifery Training Colleges and 2 (two) specialised Institution in the country, the NCHS was poised to sustain the provision of quality healthcare delivery to Ghanaians.

He thanked the Archbishop of Kumasi, the Archdiocesan Executive Secretary for Health and the Management and Staff of St. Patrick Hospital for hosting the 2016 National launch of the 24^th World Day of the Sick.     

Mr Christian Abban Sappor

       

In a welcome address, Mr. Christian Abban Sappor, Executive Secretary for Health in the Kumasi Archdiocese noted that sickness is an inevitable scenarios that mankind cannot avoid, thus the existence of caregivers.

He said the theme for the celebration was an appropriate one which calls for all care providers and care seekers to entrust themselves to the merciful Jesus like Mary and do whatever He tells us.      

During the launch, the Hospital commissioned a refurbished Emergency Unit and a Special Clinic to help ease the congestion at the Outpatient Department and help in quality healthcare provision to patients.

The Dignitaries inspecting the refurbished clinic

Some dignitaries at the function interacting after the launch 

Present at the Launch were Most Rev. Thomas Kweku Mensah, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Kumasi, Chief of Maase-Offinso and his entourage, Mr. Peter Yeboah, Executive Secretary, Christian Health Association (CHAG), as well as Chaplains and Priests, and many well-wishers.

As part of ceremony  Madam Elizabeth Mensah, Superintendent Enrolled Nurse; Madam Emma Pinamang, Principal Nursing Officer; and Mr. Philbert Yeltuo, Principal Pharmacy Technician were awarded for their long service at the Hospital. They were presented with double-decker fridges.     

Let Your Presence Inspire Confidence-

Catholic Chaplains missioned to hospitals have been challenged to let their presence inspire confidence among the sick and the staff, to ensure improve healthcare delivery to all.

Rev. Fr. Prof. John Appiah-Poku explaining a point, while
Mr Essegbey looks on.

Rev. Fr. Prof. John Appiah-Poku, a senior lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), stated that Chaplains were symbols of our shared faith, and charged them to demonstrate it, show it and live the tenets of the Church’s teachings in their respective roles. This is to complement efforts being made in the healing process at the hospitals. 

He made these observations in a presentation titled: The Chaplain as a Counsellor for Medical Intervention, at the Pope John Paul II Pastoral and Training Centre at Ofoase-Kokoben in the Obuasi Diocese.

 

Stressing the place of consistent and supportive care in the healing process, the Professor, intimated that irrespective of the cause of sickness, many non serious illness will heal when some level of care and concern were shown to the patient.

“The assurance and support offered patience increases the threshold of the patient tolerance for pain” he noted, adding that as the human face of God in the healing process, Chaplains were the comforting presence of the Church to the sick, through the administration of the sacraments and offering care.

 Fr. Appiah-Poku, opined that symbolic healing (which takes spiritual and physical form) was no monopoly of religious confession, and charged Chaplains to be skilful in their practice, as well as strive to maintain the uniqueness of the Church’s healing ministry at all times.

He stated that the Chaplain as the hope of the hopeless, comforter of the troubled hearted and the bearer of the image of God, must insist on Catholic beliefs in healthcare delivery at the various facilities at all times.

Mr George Adjei

Mr. Goerge A. Adjei, Esq., Director, the National Catholic Health Service, tackling the various areas, causes and challenges of medico-legal issues, arising from negligence and errors in healthcare delivery at the hospitals, urged Chaplains to help managers sensitise the staff on these areas in order to reduce the occurrence.

He entreated Chaplains to play the intermediary role to reduce the negative impacts punishment on staff for mistakes or psychological effects an error or negligence in caregiving might have on an offending staff.

In case of death of patients on admissions, Mr. Adjei urged Chaplains to engage the deceased families in to break the sad news of death of loved ones and follow up to console and support them afterwards.

Likewise, Mr. Ivan Essegbey, Senior Coordinator, Monitoring and Evaluation at the DOH, reminded the Chaplains of their duty to maintain good identity of their facilities in order to avoid bad press image, medico-legal issues, and loss of revenue among others.

“Be involved in orientation and organise retreats for management and staff” he stated.

Similarly, Mr. Lawrence Ofosu-Agyari, Senior Coordinator of Health Systems Management at the DOH, touched on the essence of team building, highlighting the crucial roles of chaplains as well as other members of the management team in ensuring cohesion, and addressing the complexities of healthcare provision in their respective facilities.

He however, urged them to maintain their neutrality, as they encourage team members to give off their best, reminding them to add a professional touch to their work. 

Mr. Ofosu-Agyari, also advised chaplains to lobby and build consensus on issues patterning to budget, and how to ensure the effective work of Pastoral Care teams.

The Chaplains were urged to be directly involved in the pre-counselling and post-counselling sessions for those undertaking HIV/AIDS Test and also do more of pre-surgical counselling for patients.  

A section of the Chaplains

Almost all the Chaplains reported an increment in their allowance from ¢300 to ¢1000, after the Directorate of Health and the respective Executive Secretaries took up the matter the concern the Chaplains registered last year. However a lot of them were yet to get offices in the various facilities they were working in.

Per the demands and nature of the Chaplains work in the healthcare delivery, the Chaplains expressed the need for training to equip them and need for Bishops to appoint permanent Chaplains to hospitals to help effectively make them effectively function in their apostolate.

  

Based on most Chaplains desire to visit Rome, the Director for NCHS touched on the possibility of arranging for two or three chaplains to attend the Annual Pontifical Conference on Health Rome each year to give them the platform.

        

The chaplains also resolved to invite Chaplains of Catholic Health Training and Midwifery Schools as well as Catholic Chaplains in Government Institutions to be part of the Association.