The Metropolitan Directorate of the Ghana Health Service has held an engagement meeting with the management of the Sekondi – Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly to introduce NORSAAC and its partners for the implementation of USAID’s Accelerated Social Behaviour Change (ASBC). Addressing the meeting, the Metro Director of Health Services, Dr. Pius Mensah, noted that healthy behaviour is key to achieving improved healthcare delivery. He added that it was for such reason that the Ministry of Health supports the USAID’s ASBC initiative to promote health in the country. The programme leader at NORSAAC, Mr. Mohammed Sumaila, pointed out that NORSAAC is a Non-Governmental Organisation whose activities are mainly based in the Northern Region of Ghana. He indicated that the ASBC activity is implemented by a consortium, with FHI360 being the prime partner.

The expansion of the ASBC programme to the Western Region, according to the Chief of party, Mr. J. K. Ofori, is in line with the support to the Ghana Health Service to achieve its strategic objective to lead Social Behaviour Change (SBC) efforts using the mass media and community engagement tools. He revealed that the programme has a five-year duration, of which two years had been implemented in the Northern part of Ghana, adding that the next three years would focus on building capacity, achieving community demand for healthcare and attracting private sector support to health-related areas. Mr. Ofori further indicated that if the private sector is attracted to support health-related issues, it prolongs sustainability when the NGO ends its campaign, adding that such collaboration would enable GHS to reach out to more areas and create the necessary awareness for behavioural change as a primary demand for a healthy lifestyle.

The Head of Central Administration at the STMA, Mr. Michael Adjei, speaking on behalf of the Metropolitan Chief Executive, commended the Ghana Health Service for their relentless efforts in providing healthcare to the populace and assured them of the Assembly’s commitment to supporting the promotion of health-related issues. He advised the team to consider their community entries carefully by dealing with the chiefs and Assembly Members since according to him, having the right community entry approach would maximize their quest.

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