The Health Promotion Division of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has recently formalized a partnership with various private sector organizations through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing wellness initiatives across the nation.
This collaboration forms part of a wider strategy to engage the private sector in supporting both the GHS and the National Inter-Agency Coordination Committee for Health Promotion (ICC-HP) in fulfilling their responsibilities effectively.
The MoU was finalized during the National ICC-HP Committee review meeting held in Accra.
The partnership secured 56 commitments from private sector entities, all pledging to enhance public health efforts through their corporate social responsibility programs.
Seven formal agreements have been reached, with partners committing both financial resources and in-kind support to advance social and behavioral change projects in Ghana.
Re-established in July 2023, the ICC-HP Committee is tasked with crafting strategies to educate Ghanaians and promote behavioral changes for better health outcomes.
Mrs. Mabel Asafo, Acting Director of Health Promotion at GHS, emphasized the importance of private sector involvement in strengthening the committee’s efforts and integrating best practices.
She highlighted the crucial role of media in dispelling myths and overcoming cultural barriers that prevent people from adhering to safety measures and engaging in health promotion activities.
“This initiative began early on, but without active private sector involvement, it did not succeed,” Mrs. Asafo noted.
She expressed optimism that the engagement of private sector partners would ensure the initiative’s sustainability.
“People come from various backgrounds with different perspectives on health services. No single intervention suffices; instead, we need to ensure that people, regardless of their backgrounds, understand and adopt the right messages,” she added.
Prof. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, Chairperson of the National ICC-HP, underscored the necessity of effective coordination of health promotion efforts at all levels and among stakeholders to achieve the intended results.
She observed that previous health promotion initiatives had fallen short due to a lack of coordination and synergy among implementing agencies.
Prof. Kaufmann stressed the importance of collaborative actions to ensure thorough documentation, optimize the use of limited resources, and enhance the well-being of Ghanaians.
“Our approach is comprehensive. The GHS Health Promotion Division has devised a strategy, and our committee is here to provide advisory support for its implementation,” she said.
Since its formation in July 2023, the Committee has conducted 12 meetings, set up regional ICC-HPs, and executed several health promotion campaigns, including those focused on Anthrax, rabies, and food safety awareness, among others.