Regenerative Health and Nutrition Programme Action for 2012 and Beyond Kofi Adusei PM-RHNP
Memorable Quote I want to be a Minister of Health, not a minister of ill-health. Major Rtd. Courage Quashiga (late) - 2006
Mandate of the RHNP To champion the national agenda to develop a healthy population through the promotion of preventive health and healthy lifestyle practices
Functions of the RHNP Generally, to coordinate all Healthy lifestyle and regenerative health and nutrition activities within the health sector which includes the Ministry of Health, its agencies and all other related sectors. Specifically, the functions are: To formulate comprehensive national policies and strategies and establish programme priorities relating to RHN and health promotion in general. To provide high level advocacy for RHN. To provide effective leadership in the national planning and support supervision.
Cont d To mobilize, control and manage resources and monitor their allocation and utilization. To foster linkages among all stakeholders. To promote research, information and documentation on RHN. To monitor and evaluate all on-going RHN activities.
Key Intervention Areas Water Nutrition Exercise Personal and Environmental Hygiene Rest Regular Medical Screening No Smoking Responsible Drinking
Acheivements
Policy Development Developed Policy and strategy documents Developed RHNP Annual Plans Guidelines for the operation of gyms and keep fit clubs completed RHN training manual and facilitators guide reviewed Guidelines on the use of the alternative delivery chairs Dietary and physical activity guidelines Worked with the FDB to develop their food safety policy
Training and Capacity Have trained a national core of facilitators Have conducted national and regional training of trainers using the training manuals. Have completed nation-wide district trainings in all the ten regions. Over 2000 District level trained nationwide Trained all Health Educators within GHS to serve as focal persons for RHNP activities within the GHS Members of Ghana Publishers Association trained in RHN and subsequent production of books with RHN concepts Members of Ghana Writers Association trained in RHN and subsequent production of books with RHN concepts
Training and Capacity, Cont d Integrated RHN as curriculum for Nurses and Midwives through Nurses and Midwives Council (NMC) Integrated RHNP into curriculum of Health Training Schools Integrated Curriculum into the curriculum of Tertiary institutions Integrated into Curriculum of Rural Health training schools.
Cont d - Midwives/Doctors/Nurses-Abura-C/R - Administrators- Manager - Midwives-Tema General Hospital - Midwives-Tamale Teaching Hospital Sensitized Controller and Accountant General Department (CAGD) Ladies Sensitized Medical officers on the Exercise is Medicine concept Sensitized Public Health Students/Practitioners on Exercise is Medicine Sensitized Nabita Pyvot School of Exercise Medicine Students on Exercise is Medicine
Inter-Sectoral Action, Partnership & Networking RHN is integrated into curricula of universities, polytechnics, health training institutions and GES schools Ghana School Feeding Programme has incorporated RHN into its Strategic Plan and Policy Orientation for SHEP coordinators from 4 regions on Regen and application to school children. Working with NGO s and Civil Society Groups to provide orientation to the general public Worked with the Food and Drugs Board on the development of food safety policy. Working with the private sector on the promotion of Healthy Lifestyle
Cont d Worked with National sports for All Association of Ghana (NASFAAG), of the Sport Council/Education and Sports Ministry to develop guidelines for the regulation of keep fit clubs, gyms and spas; this is the first of it kind. Coordinating the development of an alcohol policy. The policy development process has stakeholders from both the formal and informal sectors of the industry. The Regenerative programme is coordinating the implementation of a community base health promotion programme which is being managed by Better Ghana Management Services Limited The programme is coordinating a fund raising programme which is aimed at eradicating malaria in Ghana.
Scaling up Regen Nationwide Regenerative Health and Nutrition is being scaled up nationwide through the Ghana Health Service and other agencies. The Ministry of Health has developed monitoring tools that will be used to monitor nationwide RHNP implementation every quarter. Develop some medical screening guidelines Initiated the process for developing guidelines for regenerative friendly foods for patients in hospitals
Communications Quarterly review meetings held with community radio presenters Telecast of exercise sessions on air RHN 5 minute breakfast show running everyday on Choice FM Healthy eating for Healthy living show running on Choice FM every Saturday from 8 9 am Health issues talkshow commenced and currently running on GTV
Cont d IEC materials on RHN developed, printed and distributed to schools, religious organizations, health facilities, private institutions and individuals Distribution/ mounting of health educational flyers/posters done during Easter Festivities in Kwahu, Eastern Region Started a Public Alcohol Consumption Education (PACE) Started the Nations Cook on GTV, a program on healthy cooking/eating
Mother and Child Health Design and production of alternate delivery chairs Exhibition of the Alternative Delivering Chair at Accra International Trade fair on the 4 th Health Expo Presentation on the Alternative Delivery Chairs to Directors of PPME Alternate Delivery chairs have been produced and distributed to all regional and teaching hospitals on pilot basis
Squatting delivery chair
Training of Midwives in Tamale
Healthy Lifestyle RHN sensitization held for the aged Woso Woho 2011 organized Health walks & Free Screening - United Nations and Africa public service day celebration with an attendance of about 1,000 persons - African Union Healthy Lifestyle Day celebration-285 persons screened and counselled - Easter festivities at Kwahu in the Eastern Region-221 persons screened and counselled - Abeadze Traditional Area-345 Region-221 persons screened and counselled
AU Healthy Lifestyle Day
Health Screening during Kwahu Easter Festivities
Health walk & screening at Abeadze
Nutrition and Water World Water day successfully organized including free health screening Market research was conducted to find out the various methods of food preservatives and contaminants and their potential health hazards Exhibition, of healthy foods, fruits, vegetables, legumes and natural spices and drinks during health fairs and other public events
Cont d Daily screening for high blood pressure and nutritional counseling being carried out at the RHN Office Awareness creation of best nutrition practices to CAGD ladies on their ladies week celebration Developed Age specific feeding plan for various age groups,that is Nutrition throughout the Life cycle. (From Conception to Aged 70+) Age specific participatory approach on how to select and combine foods adequately to balance the meal for a productive life-about 500 people -Sensitization of market women on Hand washing with soap to prevent infections and diseases Healthy food TV programme (Nation s Health Cook) produced
Monitoring and Evaluation Proposal developed for nationwide rapid assessment of the status of RHNP implementation Baseline data collection on numbers, status and operations of all gyms, keep fit clubs and spa/recreational (wellness) centres nationwide ongoing Client satisfaction survey of members of gyms, KFC & wellness centres ongoing Conducted evaluation of BCMSC project Conducted human resource Inventory and logistic inventory for BGMSC
Community water system in some communities in Tamale
Challenges Overcrowding in the RHNP office the programme has one office for the PM as well as ten (10) other staff. This is however being addressed to some extent. Staffing Lack of cooperation with other stakeholders in achieving our set target. E.g. poor health environment still exist, complaints of agro chemicals in fruits and vegetables, Poor housing, poor water and sanitation and poor personal hygiene Inadequate and late release of funds to undertake activities
Future Direction Commence community based screening services Establish alcohol support centres in all regional capitals Train some tutors of health training schools Establish drug/alcohol intervention groups and rehabilitation centres Produce stainless adjustable version of alternate delivery chairs and distribute to all districts Train district level midwives on MCH component of RHN and use of alternate delivery chairs
Cont d Establish healthy lifestyle clubs in schools and communities nationwide Create mass awareness on the harms of alcohol and other drugs
Plans for the Future Strengthen and scale up screening services in collaboration with Ghana Health Service Continue with the Capacity Development in the area of nutrition and exercise Supporting the of guidelines to provide patients with regenerative menu Encourage NGO s and Civil Society Organizations to participate in the programme Assess and brand schools, health facilities & corporate institutions as Regen Friendly
Conclusion The Regen Health and Nutrition programme has been successfully implemented within the health sector The task is BIG, but resources limited We have moved from policy development to action We depend on our stakeholders to implement the program The program lacks the capacity building especially in the area of exercises and to make it mainstream within the health sector Future direction will focus on building capacity for exercises for the sector Work to establish a Healthy lifestyle and Regenerative Health Department to give more meaning to the sectors objective of creating a healthy population