GPAA opens 23rd Annual Conference in Techiman with strong calls for primary healthcare action
The Ghana Physician Assistants Association (GPAA) has officially opened its 23rd Annual General Conference at the Jemima Grace Kodua Hotel in Techiman, with a resounding call for physician assistants to be positioned at the heart of Ghana's primary healthcare delivery system.
The high-level opening ceremony brought together key stakeholders in the health sector, including the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriya; the National President of the GPAA, Peter Akudugu Ayamba; the Bono East Regional Minister's representative, Mrs. Beatrice Kwarteng; and Nananom of the Techiman Traditional Council.
"Not Background Noise" — GPAA President Delivers Stirring Message
In his address, GPAA National President Peter Akudugu Ayamba delivered a powerful message on the indispensable role of physician assistants in Ghana's healthcare architecture.
"Primary healthcare is not a footnote. It is the headline. And the Physician Assistant is not background noise. They are a frontline instrument of policy delivery," Ayamba declared.
He emphasized that if the nation is serious about moving from policy to practice, there must be a deliberate effort to remove the obstacles that stand between policy formulation and community outreach.
"We have to be serious about equipping physician assistants to respond fully to the rate of health needs in the community," he added.
Government Reaffirms Commitment
In a speech read on behalf of the Bono East Regional Minister, Francis Owusu, the Regional Planning Officer, Mrs. Beatrice Kwarteng, reiterated the government's commitment to supporting the work of physician assistants.
"Government remains committed to supporting the works of physician assistants by providing more health facilities in rural communities to help in the implementation of the free primary healthcare policy," Mrs. Kwarteng stated on behalf of the Regional Minister.
She further noted that the government recognizes the critical role physician assistants play in bridging the healthcare gap, particularly in underserved rural communities, and assured that efforts are underway to strengthen the system.
GHS Director General Charges Practitioners
The Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriya, also addressed the gathering, urging physician assistants to remain steadfast in their dedication to the free primary healthcare system.
"Remain committed to the free primary healthcare system in order to leave positive names for yourselves," Dr. Akoriya charged the practitioners.
Traditional Council Backs Conference
The traditional authority was well-represented at the ceremony. Nana Boakye Ameyaw Pentenpre II, Nifahene of the Techiman Traditional Council, who chaired the occasion on behalf of the Omanhene, urged the physician assistants to make the conference a turning point.
"Let this conference be a defining moment for transformative leadership, effective policy execution, and a lasting legacy of healthcare excellence," he said.
The 23rd Annual General Conference, themed "From Policy to Practice: Positioning the Physician Assistant to Deliver Comprehensive Free Primary Healthcare at the Community Level," is not just a talk shop. Alongside the conference activities, the GPAA has been running a free community health screening across four locations in Techiman — the forecourt of the Bonokyempem Hall, the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), the Techiman Central Market, and the forecourt of the NHIS office.
The screening, which includes breast cancer examinations and general health assessments, targets busy workers who find it difficult to visit hospitals due to their schedules. It is a practical demonstration of the conference theme in action.
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