Researchers, policymakers, health staff and community members, health workers, and policymakers gathered in Buipe for a half-day dissemination meeting to disseminate the findings from the impact evaluation of the Programme for Strengthening Community-Based Health and Planning Services (CHPS+). The programme was a health systems strengthening intervention aimed at improving community-based service delivery in underserved rural districts through peer learning exchanges and innovations in service delivery. In the Northern and Savannah regions, CHPS+ was implemented in the Central Gonja, Gusheigu, Kumbungu, Mion, Nanton, Savelugu, and Yendi districts. The programme was funded by the Doris Duke Foundation under the African Health Initiative.
The meeting opened with prayers and welcome remarks from the Central Gonja District Coordinating Director, Mr. Petro Ankorle. This was followed by opening remarks from the Savannah Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. John Ekow Otoo. Prof. Ayaga Bawah, the co-Principal Investigator of the CHPS+ programme, provided a statement of the objectives of the dissemination event which included presenting key findings and lessons learned from CHPS+, facilitating discussions on applying these lessons in other contexts, encouraging collaboration and knowledge exchange, and identifying opportunities for scaling up successful interventions.
Mr. Sylvester Amankwah, the Health Information Officer in Kumbungu District during the implementation of CHPS+, gave a presentation on the interventions that were implemented and the lessons that were learned. The presentation highlighted how peer learning exchanges foster improvements in CHPS+ implementation primarily through community and stakeholder engagement, resource mobilisation, and capacity building.
Researchers from the Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS), University of Ghana, presented key findings from the CHPS+ impact evaluation. The evidence showed measurable improvements in child survival and other important outcomes, such as fertility, ANC attendance, and skilled delivery. Improvements in infrastructure and staffing were also observed. However, challenges such as staff attrition, lack of logistics, and inadequate transportation and communication infrastructure persist.
Researchers from the School of Public Health, University for Development Studies, presented preliminary findings from an ongoing study on the role of Community Health Management Committees (CHMC) in Strengthening Health System in the Mion and Tolon Districts. The findings pointed to the limited participation of women, minorities, and youth in CHMC activities and the need for the expansion of interventions to improve CHMC effectiveness and inclusivity in health service delivery.
Following the presentations, there was extensive discussion by participants on the lessons learned and priority areas for improving CHPS implementation in under-resourced settings. Participants included Regional and District Directors of Health Services, District Health Management Team and District Assembly members, frontline health workers, community health officers, CHMC members, and community leaders.
The meeting concluded with closing remarks by the Savannah Regional Director for Health Services, Dr. Otoo, who reflected on the lessons learned from the presentations and highlighted the need to prioritise and tackle persistent challenges. As participants departed, the takeaway message was clear: the lessons of CHPS+ were about communities working together to build stronger and more resilient health systems and promote knowledge exchange to drive innovations in service delivery.
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