The Directorate of University Health Services (DUHS) of the University of Cape Coast performed creditably as the second best health facility in the central region, among several others that participated in the annual central regional peer review programme held on 19th October, 2021 at the premises of the Directorate. The peer review programme is an initiative of the Central Regional Health Directorate (CRHD), which creates a platform for the peer assessment of health professionals and facilities in the region, to maintain standards and best practices in healthcare delivery and management.
As part of the assessment processes, the University Health Services was grouped in zone one with Cape Coast Metro Hospital, Dunkwa-On-Offin Government Hospital, Twifo Ati-Morkwa District Hospital, Ankaful General/Leprosy Hospital and Elmina Polyclinic. The CRHD delegated assessors from St. Francis Xavier Catholic Hospital, Ewim Polyclinic, Biriwa Polyclinic and Hope Christian Hospital, who inspected all areas and Units of DUHS, using the following six-module checklist on healthcare delivery and strategic management:
1. Module 1 (Strategic Objective 1): Ensure sustainable, affordable, equitable, easily accessible healthcare services (Universal Health Coverage)
2. Module 2 (Strategic Objective 2): Reduce morbidity and mortality, and intensify prevention and control of non-communicable diseases
3. Module 3 (Strategic Objective 3): Enhance efficiency in governance and management of health system
4. Module 4 (Strategic Objective 4): Intensify prevention and control of communicable diseases and ensure the reduction of new HIV/AIDS and other STIs, especially among the vulnerable groups
5. Module 5 (Institutional Care)
6. Module 6 (Institutional Governance Systems and COVID-19 Assessment)
After the inspection tour by the assessors, a durbar was held at the conference hall of the Directorate to receive feedback from the assessors, and general remarks from the key stakeholders at the programme. The programme was chaired by the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chairperson of the University Health Services Committee (UHSC) of the University of Cape Coast; Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, with other guests and participants that included; the Dean of the School of Medical Sciences (SMS)-Prof. Sebastian Eliason, the Director of DUHS-Dr. Evans Ekanem, the Head of the CRHD team-Mr. Peter Kyeremateng; assessors and observers from sister hospitals, Management and staff of DUHS, and other stakeholders of the healthcare industry.
The University Health Services got an overall performance score of 92.7% as presented by the assessors and confirmed by the leader of the CRHD team. This was an improvement over the 2017 (92.6%) and 2016 (86.6%) peer review performances by the Directorate. The leader of the team from the CRHD; Mr. Peter Kyeremateng commended UCC Hospital for its consistent good performances on the peer review over the years, referring to the Facility as a “Star Hospital” within the central region. He added that the peer review programme remains a great learning opportunity, as well as a platform to ensure best practices and enhance quality healthcare delivery.
In a delighted response to the results achieved by the hospital, the Director of DUHS expressed profound gratitude to the University Management, as well Management and Staff of DUHS for their contributions and support towards the peer review programme. He further thanked the CRHD for the encouragement and assistance to the Directorate, especially during the challenging early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region.
In her closing remark, the Chairperson of the programme lauded Management and staff of DUHS for a great performance and relentless efforts in the delivery of good healthcare services to the University community and the general public. She further appreciated the output of all healthcare professionals towards patients, as well as the regular support of the CRHD and stakeholders in the industry.
Brief Profile of the Directorate of University Health Services (DUHS)
The Directorate of University Health Services (DUHS) began as a Clinic in 1963, attached to the Adehye Hall to cater for the health needs of students, staff and their dependents. It is now one of the Directorates of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), and consists of the University Health Services (UHS) and the Environmental Health Section (EHS). The Directorate is governed and regulated by the University Health Services Committee (UHSC) under the Chairmanship of the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University, with representatives from Academic Board, Convocation, Central Regional Health Directorate (CRHD), Senior Staff Association of Universities of Ghana (SSA-UoG, UCC), Tertiary Educational Workers Union (TEWU), Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG), Student Representative Council (SRC), and DUHS. It is licensed as a Primary Health Care (PHC) Facility by the Health Facility Regulatory Agency (HeFRA) of Ghana. The Facility is a member of the Ghana Association of Quasi-Government Health Institutions (GAQHI). It is a designated sub-Metro of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Health Directorate with five (5) functional Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Zones located at Akotokyir, Amamoma, Duakor/Abakam, Kwaprow, and OLA catchment areas. It is a 70 bed-capacity Facility with a catchment population of 37,322 (excluding the population students and workers). The vision of the DUHS is to have a University Health Services that is strongly positioned with a nationwide acclaim. As its mission, the DUHS is an equal opportunity health facility of choice in the Cape Coast Metropolis, that is uniquely placed to provide quality health services in the most professional, patient oriented and patient friendly manner.