The Ghana Health Service (GHS) Director for the Ahafo Region, Dr. Emmanuel Atsu Dodor, has raised concerns over the worsening nurse-to-patient ratio in the region, calling for urgent measures to address the situation.
Speaking at the 2024 Annual Review Meeting of the Regional Health Directorate at Hwidiem, Dr. Dodor revealed that the nurse-to-patient ratio has deteriorated significantly from 1:183 in 2023 to 1:201 in 2024, posing a challenge to healthcare delivery in the region.
He attributed this decline to two major factors: the increasing migration of nurses abroad in search of better opportunities and the underdeveloped state of the Ahafo Region.
He explained that poor road networks, inadequate staff accommodation, and limited social amenities have contributed to many nurses frequently requesting transfers to more developed regions.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Dodor commended health workers in the region for their efforts in reducing the proportion of infants born with HIV from infected mothers.
He noted that the region recorded a significant drop from 5.7% in 2023 to 1.7% in 2024, a milestone he urged health workers to build upon.
He encouraged them to intensify their efforts to achieve a zero-percent rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission in the coming years, ensuring the safety and well-being of newborns in the region.