NCHS celebrates Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum

The thunderous applauds by dignitaries and participants signified the cheerful approval of Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum’s steadfast commitment and remarkable service to the advancement of the National Catholic Health Service (NCHS).

As Bishop responsible for Health, for the past seven years, he undertook several initiatives and championed efforts to improve quality and affordable healthcare delivery to Ghanaians.

For his efforts, the NCHS honoured him with a plaque and a gift, at the just ended 15^th Annual Conference held at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo-Region.

The prelate, who also heads the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua, worked tirelessly to promote and advance the work of the NCHS in many areas.

According to Mr. George A. Adjei, Director of the NCHS, the Bishop did a lot to improve the work of the NCHS in the past seven years he served as Bishop Responsible for Health.

He commended him for his efforts in visiting many NCHS facilities in some parts of the country, and expressed gratitude to him for his willingness to promote health delivery in the country.

Similarly, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, new Episcopal Chairman for Health, extolled Bishop Afrifah Agyekum for his support and dedication to the growth of NCHS for the past seven years.

Bishop Fianu acknowledged his predecessor for his work in health care delivery and “also for agreeing to a slow handover process of this portfolio”.

In a valedictory remark, Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum reminisced moments when he was first appointed the Episcopal Chairman for Health, by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), stating that “I thought I was in a wonderland.”

But after seven years he noted that “it has been both eventful and a rare experience” and thanked the frontline staff of NCHS, working in remote areas, for braving the odds to work and making the best out of difficult situations.

During his tenure, the Prelate paid a duty tour of NCHS facilities in nine Arch/Dioceses and observed the limited resources at the disposal of health facilities and the circumstances some of the staff were working under. “The learning experience is so phenomenal” he said. 

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum who doubles as the Bishop of Koforidua commended the Director of the Directorate of Health at the NCHS and his team, Members of the Medical Ethics Commission, past and present members’ representative of the Bishops’ Conference on the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) Board, the Health Service Managers. “You were my Teachers and you guided me throughout my tenure” he observed.     

He entreated his successor to ensure the continuity of initiatives such as the Pool Procurement Programme, started in 2011 and the sustenance of the Catholic Medicines Centre at the National Catholic Secretariat, as well as the improvement in the management of NCHS facilities throughout the country.

He urged the NCHS to develop and register as a Trust with its own governance body that reports to the GCBC, which will enable the centralization of some major policies, so that with the approval of the Conference decisions and policies will become binding on all NCHS facilities in the country.

The registration of NCHS as a Trust, will “promote our unity and get our managers to comply with decisions and directives of the Conference” Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum argued.

Whilst pledging his resolute support to the work of the NCHS, the immediate past Bishop Responsible for Health expressed appreciation to all those who hosted them during their visits to NCHS facilities in the nine Arch/Dioceses.