‘Prioritise Retooling of NHIS’-Gov’t urged

Dignitaries at the Conference

To ensure equity in health care coverage, and safeguard access to healthcare services as well as financial risk protection against the cost of quality healthcare, Government has been entreated to prioritise the retooling of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Most Rev. Philip Naameh, Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale, and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), recently said that “in its present state, the NHIS needs to be strengthened to enable it to respond to the needs and demands of patients, public and service providers”.

The Archbishop made the appeal at the 52^nd Annual Conference of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) in Tamale recently, under the theme: Ghana’s Journey towards Universal Health Coverage: The Role of CHAG. 

By strengthening the NHIS, the Archbishop argued that it will enable the National Health Authority to fulfill its legitimate obligations to Service Providers on time, in terms of prompt reimbursements and payment of economic tariff structure, which would serve as an enabler and co-driver to the attainment of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Ghana.

The Archbishop said “the UHC journey is only possible when dedicated health professionals imbibe the missionary spirit to serve needy populations in unreached segments of the society,” and urged Service Providers to ensure efficient service provision that champions the Culture of Health and promote a supportive environment.

Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Minister for Health, said in spite of Ghana health system having infrastructure, primary health care, and financial protection, we still have “massive problematic inefficiencies” in the health system that needs to be addressed.

To this end, he said the Ministry of Health is in the process of outdooring a road map to improve health care delivery and the attainment of the Universal Health Coverage by 2030, and invited CHAG to also make inputs into the roadmap.

He said plans were afoot to put in checks and also clean the system of inefficiency in the NHIS so that it offers the best to the public.

Similarly, Dr. Lydia Dsane-Selby, CEO of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), in a keynote address stated that UHC is a global phenomenon and Ghana is making a bid to be the first sub-Saharan African country to achieve UHC especially with its domestic resources.

She observed that the NHIA and the Ministry of Finance have done an extensive reconciliation and were paying outstanding claims to the health facilities up to December 2018.

Dr. Dsane-Selby further noted that her outfit has also started clearing the arrears from January 2019 and possibly to March 2019, adding that payments would be regular from there in a bid to catch up. “We hope that this will curtail the phenomenon of co-payments which has crept in defeating the purpose of NHIS and Universal Health Coverage” she stressed.

Presenting his report, Mr. Peter K. Yeboah, Executive Director of CHAG, the network has “with barely 7.5 % of health infrastructure in Ghana, in 2018, contributed 32.1% of national in-patient care/admissions and 22.0% of national OPD services”.

Peter K. Yeboah

To ensure Quality Improvement Initiatives, he noted that CHAG would scale up the WHO Quality of Care Patient Safety Initiative in CHAG facilities and support PharmAccess and other partners to embark on comprehensive quality improvement programme for the entire network. 

He said in its bid to offer the urban poor and needy access to healthcare, some Churches have been establishing healthcare facilities in needy urban environments, adding that the intent is not to duplicate but fill gaps and overlaps in access to quality service provision and to complement government journey towards UHC.

The Executive Director, noting the need for CHAG to reposition itself as a reliable partner in the movement towards making UHC a reality in Ghana by 2030, called on member facilities to work together with a refocused passion that reflects the needs of our clients, and a renewed presence and visual identity to lead the national and international stage, backed by a rejuvenated purpose to “inspire our clients, our staff and the community to push for more”.

EVAG assists Centre of Hope

The Event Vendors Association of Ghana (EVAG), has presented assorted items to the Centre of Hope at Abossey Okai, Accra, to support the Centre serves the needs of its beneficiaries.

The donation, the first the by association was part of activities commemorating the first anniversary of EVAG, which was under the theme: Touching Lives with Every Step.

Mrs. Kate Hassan, President of the Association, who also donated a cheque for GH ¢3,000, said the gesture was to assist the Centre meet the needs of the marginalised in society.

Sr. Paulina Ollo, FMM, who received the donation on behalf of the Administrator of the Centre, thanked the Association for their kind gesture.

She briefed the gathering on the day-to-day activities of the Centre and the number of beneficiaries it takes care of and noted that inadequate funding was a challenge.

Mrs. Theresa Ntiamoah-Marfo, Vice-Chairperson of the Board of the Centre, also touched on the initiative of the late Archbishop Dominic K. Andoh of Accra, who established the Centre to attend to the urban poor, including orphans, persons with disability, and cured lepers as well as those with HIV/AIDS and the marginalised in society.

She commended EVAG for their kindness and appealed to philanthropists and corporate organisations to come to the aid of the Centre.

Members of the Association interacted with beneficiaries and entertained them with good music, while some of the beneficiaries of the Centre staged some performances, including poetry recitals at the programme.

As an association for event vendors, organisers, and management, which was launched in August, 2018, Mrs. Hassan said it aims at bringing all those in the event organising and management industry together, to collaborate and help members to build a better industry.

Mrs. Hassan noted that the association also promotes and encourages the highest level of ethics within the industry, while maintaining the highest standard of professional conduct, and improve the standards through forum, seminars for players to give of their best.

Mr. Ato Kwamena Attuquayefio, Vice President of the Association noted that with over 70 members, the group is committed to maintaining excellence in the industry and to provide standardized service to their clients. 

The Association prior to the donation  had a walk through some principal streets of Accra. 

* Mrs. Hassan presenting the cheque to Sr. Paulina, while some Board Members of the Centre and Members of the Association looked on.

'Let Your Faith Shine'

Rev. Mgr. Francis Abuah Quansah, Delegate of the Apostolic Administrator of the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese has charged Catholic women to internalise the values of compassion and mercy in their hearts and shine as a light in their families and in society.

Msgr. Abuah Quansah who compared the ideal Catholic woman to the Good Samaritan, urged women to be compassionate towards their neighbours as well as show respect and dignity to all.

The Apostolic Delegate made these remarks in a homily at a thanksgiving Mass to climax the 8^th Biennial Congress of the St. Theresa of the Child of Jesus Society of the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese at the St. Matthew Parish, Tarkwa. 

As women of character and women who matter in our society, the Apostolic Delegate reminded women them of the mission Jesus Christ entrusted to them to be the salt and light of the world.

Concelebrants at the well-attended Mass included Rev. Fr. Clement Kwasi Adjei, Director of the Directorate of Good Governance, Justice and Peace at the National Catholic Secretariat, Rev. Fr. Nii Noi Dowunor, Parish Priest of St. Matthew Church, Rev. Fr. Isaac Atta-Mensah, Diocesan Spiritual Director of the Society and Rev. Fr. Micheal Blay Morkeh, Tarkwa Denary Spiritual Director of the Society. 

Very Rev. Fr. Bonaventure Annan, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cape Coast, speaking on theme of the Congress: The Ideal Catholic Woman as the Salt of the Earth and Light of the World in the 21^st Century, entreated women to emulate the virtues of St. Theresa and let their faith shine in their conduct and character.

He urged Christians especially women to excel in their good works and never get tired of doing little things for others, adding that Christianity is a practice that must be seen in our lives and not only in the Church.

The Vicar General said as ideal Catholic women, they have a role to protect their families and ensure the sanctity of the marriage as well as preserve human life at all stages.

Fr. Annan, observed that the greatest challenge of Christians today is the temptation to go with the crowd and the tendency to lose their values and self-worth with the current challenges confronting our society but stated that the ideal Catholic woman should not conform to the world but transformed by the enlightenment of the Word of God.

Noting that life was a challenge, the Vicar General urged Catholic woman to be the flavour of life and endeavour to bring some modicum of joy that enhances the quality of people, especially among the vulnerable and marginalized in the society.

He said the ideal catholic woman is a special one who goes to Mass and involves herself in all the churches activities, preserve and protects her family as well as preserves the environment from degradation.

Over 900 delegates from 59 branches of the society in the Diocese participated in the 4-day Congress, held at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa.

Dignitaries including traditional authorities with their retinue, Priests and the Religious, as well as Government officers and well-wishers,  graced the opening of the Congress.

Tεtrεtε Okuamoah Sekyim II, Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, who commended the St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Society for their efforts, urged them to continue striving to be the ideal Catholic women.

He said the need for the ideal Catholic woman to be the salt and light in the world was a wakeup call to all Christians to rethink their actions and attitudes.

The Omanhene who asked Christians to be firm in their faith stressed the need for them to practicalise their faith and emulate the virtues of St. Theresa.

Similarly, Mr. Albert Kennedy Asmah, Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly in a remark commended the Catholic Church and members of the St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Society for their commitment to development, assured the public that the Tarkwa and Ahwetiaso road under construction would be completed by close of the year.

He appealed to women to support the Government’s effort to develop the area, noting that seedling would soon be supplied to farmers in the area under the planting for food and job programme.

MMDCEs election: Catholic Bishops, Parties, others show support

Dignitaries at the meeting 

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Office of the National Chief Imam, and the various political parties in Ghana have shown support to the impending referendum to pave way for the election of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the country.

This was at a multi-stakeholder Conference organised by the Directorate of Governance, Justice, and Peace at the National Catholic Secretariat in Accra, to sensitise Ghanaians on the forthcoming referendum scheduled for December this year.

The forum with funding from the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung was informed by the Catholic Social Teachings, which also seeks to support efforts of Government and Stakeholders to enhance the capacity of people at the local level to make decisions that affect their lives and their communities.

With representation from the Church throughout the country, Political Parties, Parliament, ministers of state, and representatives of the Electoral Commission (EC), religious groups, civil society, and academia, the forum besides sought ideas on how to promote effective representation, accountability in local governance, and about the direct participation of political parties in local government elections.

Section of participants

Most Rev. Philip Naameh, President of the of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference in a speech read for him expressed worry about the low interest in the upcoming referendum in December has received and urged participation of all in the exercise, noting that “if successful, will lead to the amendment of an important entrenched article of the national constitution” and mark a turning point for local governance and development at the grassroots.

He reiterated the commitment of the Bishops’ Conference to supports efforts of Government and stakeholders to help improve local governance, adding that the Churches network of parishes and outstations across the country will continue to provide platforms and opportunities for awareness creation and discussion on the merits and demerits of the proposals.

The Archbishop encouraged the clergy and lay faithful all levels to participate actively in the debates and discussions leading to the referendum.

“As we have done in the past the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference will offer its support, once again, to the Government, the EC, the National Commission on Civic Education and other stakeholders to create awareness and understanding of the issues at stake during the referendum so that the people can make informed choices and decisions,” Archbishop Naameh added.

In the run-up to the 2016 elections the Progressive People’s Party and the NPP Government in their campaign, proposed direct election of the MMDCEs instead of they being appointed by the President, but speakers at the forum largely agree to the proposition of organising the elections based on political party representation, noting that active politics takes place at the local level.

Prof. Ebow Bondzi-Simpson

Professor Ebow Bondzi-Simpson, Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), in a keynote address, said it is not sufficient to elect the MMDCEs, noting it is not enough to change Article 55 (3) for the referendum on the election of MMDCEs.

He said the Bill was limited in scope; stating that there were still ancillary clauses in the constitution such as the appointment of 30 percent of all-district assembly members by the President that need to be dealt with.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, a former First Lady, who said the meeting was strategic, called for the inclusions of women in the decision-making process at the local level.

Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development stated that her ministry has developed a roadmap for the process urged all the political parties and the general public to be involved in the processes leading to the Referendum in December.

While entreating Ghanaians to shun political patronage in the country, the Minister also entreated political parties to identify women and support them to be elected as MMDCEs.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission of Ghana has assured the public of its preparedness to carry out the referendum, come December.

St. John of God Hospital commissions new theatre

The New Theatre

A new theatre for the St. John of God Hospital, Amrahia has been commissioned to help improve quality healthcare delivery to patients living in and around Amrahia in the Adentan Municipality.

Br. Bartolommeo Kamara, Provincial Superior of the St. Augustine Province of Africa of the St. John of God Hospitaller Order, said the addition of the Theatre to the facility, would augment the treatment and delivery of quality care to the patients.

With 16 facilities in eight countries in Africa, Br. Kamara announced that the St. John of God Clinic, the fourth facility in the Ghana, managed by the St. John of God Order, has been granted Hospital Status.

He commended the staff, through whose efforts the 4-year Clinic was upgraded to the status of a Hospital, and urged them to uphold the values of respect, justice, compassion and hospitality, in order to achieve excellence in healthcare delivery. 

Bro. Kamara also thanked the curia team including Mr. Valentine Bruku, Financial Administrator of the Province, who with others helped in sourcing funds to build the Theatre.

Instead of seeing each other as competitors in health care provision, the Provincial Superior urged neighbouring facilities to work together as collaborators to improve the health of the people.  

The project, according to Mr. Fosu Agyemang, Chief Executive Officer of the Ellfasons Constructions Ltd, contractors of the edifice, has two theatres, two recovery rooms, two offices, male and female changing rooms among others.

Completed at an estimated cost of GH₵ 980,612.94, Mr. Agyemang said theatre was built with the best materials and in accordance to accepted standards is disability friendly.

Madam Roberta Asiedu, Deputy Coordinator, Community and Institutional Care at the Directorate of Health (DoH), National Catholic Health Service, commended the leadership and team who worked to build the theatre, and urged management of the hospital to improve the operation theatre efficiency, and ensure that the required guidelines and standard for surgical safety is made available for the staff to adhere to.

While assuring them of DoH’s commitment and support in the provision of quality healthcare delivery, she advised management to take keen interest in data generated at the theatre and study it in order to measure and improve the services.

Dr. Julius Afedi Dedebo, Adentan Municipal Health Director, commended the Hospital for their services and social interventions in the catchment area, and encouraged them to expand their laboratory services among others in order to retain and serve their clients better.  

He urged them to continue with the good collaboration between the Municipal Health Directorate, so as to improve upon the health indicators in the Municipality.

Mr. Donatus Duncan Adaletey, Executive Secretary for Health, Accra Archdiocese, urged management to expand the space in the facility in order to take care of more clients.

He also urged the staff to not only be professionals in their dressing but to respect how they relate with their clients and not to look down on them in order the sustain quality healthcare provision.

Nuno Seth Ashirifi Kofi, representative of Amrahia Chief, thanked management for their efforts and expressed the readiness of the Chiefs and elders to continue collaborating with the facility to improve greater health care delivery in the area.

Women manifesting fruits of empowerment programme

Some finished necklace designs

Beneficiaries of the Economic Empowerment Programme for Women, are making gains and improvising new techniques in the designs of the wears they are producing.

A recent visit to some of the beneficiaries, barely two months of graduating from the programme showed that they were making strides by producing nice designs and even exploring to an array of new designs to add to what they have been taught during the programme.

Six of the women were making beads into nice designs, including key holders, bracelets, bleach, and Palazzo as well as how to make key holders, bracelets, necklaces and paper bags among others.

Testimonies

Madam Seyram

Madam Gina Seyram Senanoo, prefect of the group, who resides at Otinibi Aya Court area says “by God’s grace business is going on well. The more you produce the goods, the more you attract customers. So it is my target to produce more of the key holders, the bangles, beads, earrings to showcase.”

“I have produced few pieces of the earrings, key holders and I intend to produce more”. “I sometimes go on the internet on my phone to look at other designs to add to what I have learned”.

“I thank the organisers for providing us with the beads and the materials to work with, and to produce a variety of the necklace I buy some crystals and beads to nice designs”.

Saying the programme was good and beneficial to her, she appealed to the organisers “to continue supporting women to acquire these skills.”

Another graduate, Madam Mary Efe Mensah, who was working on some of the unique patterns before we got there, says “Oh! I don’t know how to say it, but the programme has helped me a lot”.

“After the programme I sat down to rack my brain on bringing out a new design, and came up with these design ‘pattern’ which I join together to make the bags”, she noted.

Madam Efe sharing her experience

Showcasing her distinctive wares, which includes assorted designs of necklaces, bags made from beads, earrings among others.

She says though “I have made some sales and people really liked it, the marketing of the ware is still a challenge” and added she has tried to advertised her wares on social media: “I advertise on Facebook and WhatsApp, which attracts some friends to buy, although it’s difficult convincing friends to buy”. “Marketing the wares is still a challenge, is still a challenge.

“Yes, I have the idea to do something, I was idle, but when I heard about the programme I decided to come and learn more and polish my skills”.

Madam Aboagye receiving some guidance from a staff

Also, Madam Edith Aboagye notes “the programme is a good one and has taught me some skills. I am trying to make some designs”.  But says “I have challenges making time for more designs due to another schedule”. 

The project coordinator and Nurses on the team shared some pieces of advice on how to improve upon her designs and work.

Peer-learning

The women occasionally interact among themselves and share ideas on how to improve on what they have learned. There are occasional visits to other women who graduates, which Madam Gina Senanoo alluded to.

Support from Organisers

After their graduation, the trainers (Public Health Nurses at the St. John of God Clinic, Amrahia, still find time to offer useful technical support to graduates. Madam Edith Aboagye commended her trainers for their readiness to assist them.   

Background

The project, an initiative of the St. Augustine Province of the St. John of God Hospitaller Brothers is to empower women to become self-reliant in taking care of their children and themselves.

The prospects of the programme as manifested by the fruits of the first graduate, is encouraging for organisers who are still preparing to roll out phase two.

Meanwhile, the Financial Controller of the St. Augustine Province, Mr. Valentine K. Bruku, who hinted of a possible replication of the programme in the other seven countries of Africa, where the St. John of God operates, called on donors to support the programme for more women to benefit from it.

‘Put in more Effort’-Health workers charged

Health workers have been advised to put in more efforts to sustain the delivery of quality healthcare to the sick in the country. 

Most Rev. Joseph Francis Kwaku Essien, Bishop of Wiawso, who made the appeal at this year’s National Launch of the World Day of the Sick at the St. John of God Hospital at Sefwi-Asafo charged health professionals to discharge their duties with love, dedication and smile in caring for the patient.

“What is the use of a beautiful hospital or clinic which does not have competent and honest personnel, or personnel who show gross indiscipline and disrespect to patients?” he queried.

While commending health workers, especially those within the National Catholic Health Service (NCHS) for their commitment to healthcare delivery, the Bishop entreated them to do more to overcome the lapses inherent in the healthcare delivery system currently.

Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, Bishop of Ho and Episcopal Chainman for Health, launching the 27^th World Day of the Sick, read the Pope’s message and entreated the health workers to promote the culture of generosity and care to the sick.

The Bishop also commended Catholic healthcare institutions and volunteers in healthcare for their services, and reiterated the Pope’s call for them to avoid the trap of turning their service as “simply running a business” but “to give an example of self-giving, generosity and solidarity”.

The theme for the celebration “You received without payment; give without payment” (Mt. 10:8), attracted many health workers and Hospital Chaplains health from facilities throughout the country.

Similarly, George Adjei, Esq, Director of the Directorate of Health at the NCS, commended the Catholic Church for its role in healthcare in Ghana, and thanked the staff of the NCHS for their contributions and dedication.

In order to maintain quality health delivery, the Director entreated workers within the NCHS to redouble their efforts to continue improving the provision of quality healthcare delivery to their clients.

According to Rev. Bro. Yohannes Torwoe, Director of the St. John of God Hospital, the facility in 2018 recorded 67,964 OPD attendance, out of which 11,045 were admitted, and 1,487 surgeries performed. The facility also recorded 2,298 deliveries, with 9,769 Antenatal Clinic (ANC) and a decline in the maternal mortalities from 161 cases in 2017 to 147 in 2018.

Bro. Torwoe extolled the hardworking staff for their professionalism, dedication and commitment, which helps the hospital sustain the healthcare delivery at the facility.

As part of the launch, sod was cut for the construction of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Nana Kwame Obeng II, Chief of Sefwi-Mim, who chaired the function, acknowledged the contribution of the Catholic Church to the development and improvement of healthcare delivery, and thanked the efforts of the staff of the hospital.

He also pledged the assistance of the Chief and Elders of the area to support the development of the hospital.

The Hospital Choir as well as the St. Joseph Church Choir at Sefwi-Asafo graced the function with medleys of songs. 

Some of the Chaplains visited the patients in the wards and prayed for them. 

Lessons on Wills, Addiction for Chaplains

Mr. Adjei taking the Chaplains through how to write Wills

Thirty-four Catholic Hospital Chaplains recently received training on what Wills entails, the complexities involved and how to document nuncupative Wills, during a recent meeting at Sefwi- Wiawso.

A section during the presentation

Touching on who qualifies to write a will, George Adjei Esq., Director of the National Catholic Health Service (NCHS), noted that every person above age 18, is capable of making a Will. This, he said excludes persons with unsound mind, infants or person bellow 18 years and persons who are senile, including persons suffering from memory loss and those unable to speak audibly or coherently as well as persons suffering from excruciating pain or in a state of hysteria and persons under the influence of alcohol.

Mr. Adjei, highlighting the importance of Wills noted that Wills were written to avoid trouble and confusion after the death of a person, as well as give effect to the wishes of the deceased.

Another importance of a Will he noted was to circumvent some customs and traditions from taking the effect, and to provide for the upkeep of family members and loved ones, as well as avoid PNDC Law 111 from taking effect on the Testator’s property.

Speaking on the topic: Writing Nuncupative Wills, Mr. Adjei, explained that a Will is a legal document containing instructions about the disposal of a person’s property. It is essentially a declaration of a person’s intentions concerning how his/her property should be distributed after his/her death.

Some of the Chaplains taking notes 

He expounded that a nuncupative Will (oral will) is a Will that has been delivered orally (that is, in speech) to witnesses, as opposed to the usual form of Wills.

Explaining further, Mr. Adjei noted that nuncupative Will should be voluntary by the Testator, who has attained maturity age and not suffering from any mental incapacity.

He also noted that properties of the Testators must be self-acquired.

Mr. Adjei also advised Chaplains who might be entrusted with such wills to record the oral will, when it was being made and transcribe them for safe keeping.

The Director explained that the topic was chosen because, in their work, Chaplains regularly encounter these situations during the end of life care. “Where it is possible to invite a lawyer, this may not be necessary but in case of ‘emergency’, that is where death is almost imminent, a Chaplain could document these wishes”, he added.

A Chaplain seeking clarification.

He also made the distinction between an oral Will and death-bed wishes or dying wishes.

Noting that Wills take the effect after the death of a person (Testator), he advised Ghanaians to write Wills and periodically revise them.

Dr. Anita Appiah, Coordinator for Community and Institutional Care at the Directorate of Health, speaking on Addictions, called Chaplains and those handling addicts to respect their (the addicts) rights and dignity.

As pastoral agents, she entreated Chaplains to be willing to help addicts appreciate their challenge, adding that even though their clients may deny they were addicted at the initial stages, they should strive to build rapport with them in order to facilitate their healing.

Dr. Appiah described addiction as a chronic disease characterized by compulsive thinking about what one derives satisfaction from, and difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.

Drawing the distinction between substance and process addictions, she urged Ghanaians to be concerned about Addictions and work together with other experts by providing the needed support to the patient.

Mr. Essegbey (R) interacting with some Chaplains.

She noted that the essence of the presentation was to create awareness among the Chaplains on the drug the phenomenon, which is on the ascendency and how they could work with experts to help counsel the addicts.

Similarly, Mr. Ivan Essegbey, Senior Coordinator of the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of the Directorate of Health, NCS, who acknowledged the invaluable role the Chaplains played in the hospitals, encouraged them to submit their data on time to the Directorate.

*Mr Adjei taking the Chaplains through the topic on Wills.

Capacity building for Hospital Chaplains

The Prelates and Chaplains

Catholic Hospital Chaplains Association has at the end of their annual capacity building workshop at Sefwi-Wiawso adopted new strategies to ensure the effective running of the body. 

To this end, members renewed the mandate of the President, Rev. Fr. Joseph Donkor and elected Rev. Frs. Richmond Danso Sintim, and Joseph Opoku, as Vice President and Treasurer respectively, with Fr. Mathias Takyi Agyeman, as Secretary of the Association.

Chaplains in the healthcare setting are not only spiritual counsellors but advocates for patients and staff. They no doubt influence care, improve clinical outcomes, and enhance staff morale.

Due to the trust they establish with patients, experts say Chaplains are able to transfer to other members of the care team motivation, leading to better care outcomes.

It is on this basis that the Directorate of Health at the National Catholic Secretariat (NCS), has instituted the annual meetings for Catholic Hospital Chaplains across the country to give them a refresher training and strengthen their capacities to discharge their roles effectively.

The Association which expressed the vital role of Chaplains noted the complexities in their work and called for the designation of a Priest Chaplain at the National Catholic Secretariat to coordinate and champion the cause of Chaplains in the country.

A Chaplain praying for the patient

The group also suggested the upgrading of the CPE programme run for counsellors in Koforidua, in order to award professional certificates recognized by Ghana Psychology Council.

They appealed to the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) for the approval and recognition of the Chaplains Association as well as the appointment of fulltime chaplains to health facilities.

The Chaplains numbering 34 indicated the need for the registration of the Association as a body and members with the Ghana Psychology Council in order to receive licenses to enable them to operate professionally in the health facilities.

Similarly, Fr. Donkor on behalf of the Association called for the synchronization of salaries and appraisal of Chaplains, leading to promotion. They also appealed for sponsorship for professional training to improve their professionalism.

Mr. George Adjei, Director of Health at the NCHS, who underscored the relevance of the Chaplains in health institutions added his voice to the appeal for a National Chaplain and recognition of the Chaplains by the Ghana Catholic Bishop’s Conference, just like the Chaplains in the Security Services and Tertiary Institutions.

Commenting on the appraisal and promotion of Chaplains, the Director said the Executive Secretaries in the Arch/Dioceses were best placed to appraise the Chaplains in their work on behalf of the respective Arch/Bishops.

Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, Bishop of Ho and Episcopal Chairman for Health who sat through the meeting, urged the Association to present a proposed job description for the National Chaplain office for the evaluation and consideration by the Bishop’s Conference.

For the Association to be recognized by the Bishop’s Conference, Bishop Fianu advised them to present a Constitution, which clearly spells out important details of their scope of work for the Bishops consideration.

On the last day of the meeting, Bishop Joseph Francis K. Essien, Bishop of the Diocese hosted the Chaplains to a special dinner at the Pastoral Centre.

Fr. Donkor on behalf of his confreres thanked the Bishop for hosting them and giving them the treat.