Type | Book |
Title | Assessment of the Ghana Ministry of Health Contraceptive Logistics System |
Author(s) | |
Publication (Day/Month/Year) | 1999 |
Page numbers | 0-0 |
Publisher | Family Planning Logistics Management, for the US Agency for International Development (USAID) |
City | Arlington |
Country/State | USA |
URL | http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/Pnack538.pdf |
Abstract | Fertility rates have dramatically declined during the past decade, from six births in the mid- 1980s to 4.5 births per woman during the past five years, according to the Ghana, 1998 Demographic Health Survey. While knowledge of family planning continues to be high among both men and women, women in rural areas are likely to have twice as many children as those in the urban areas. Access to basic health service is a major constraints faced by at least 40 percent of the Ghanaian population. In addition, the Ministry of Health (MOH) continues to struggle with increasing demand for health services and dwindling resources to manage them. A joint tripartite team of MOH, USAID/Ghana, and John Snow, Inc.’s Family Planning Logistics Management (JSI/FPLM) project conducted an assessment of the MOH contraceptive logistics system from August 29–September 17, 1999, because 48 percent of the women obtain their contraceptive supplies from the MOH. The team used qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection to assess the in-country supply chain. The assessment was conducted to better understand the status of the flow of commodities (especially to the rural areas), measure the overall performance of the MOH logistics system, and provide recommendations to make the system more effective. The assessment results showed that the contraceptive logistics system is operational. A wide range of modern contraceptives is reaching the clients through the MOH distribution system, even in the most inaccessible and rural areas. Logistics data is collected throughout the system and reported to the national level. The family planning program has achieved a 100 percent reporting rate, enabling them to accurately forecast contraceptive requirements for the coming years. The system currently has an adequate supply of contraceptives; however, a future shortfall may occur if additional funds are not committed to the procurement of contraceptive supplies. Inadequate storage conditions of contraceptive supplies were found at all levels—from the central level down to the service delivery point (SDP). In addition, the central medical stores was not always told when to expect deliveries, increasing their operating costs, decreasing their efficiency, and slowing their response time. Many of the staff in the system have received basic training in storekeeping; however, the training did not include management and storage of health commodities, especially drugs. This is further exacerbated by the fact that there are no established standard operating procedures. A consequence of this was seen in the stock imbalances found throughout the system and the lack of an inventory control system. Several factors may be contributing to the lack of access to family planning programs and they may need to be monitored nationally. Many of the health workers interviewed reported that the10 recent price increase has had detrimental effects on the demand for contraceptives. The team also found that a client could not be given a consistent quantity of contraceptive in a given visit, as none of the health workers was aware of a national dispensing policy. |
» | Ghana - Demographic and Health Survey 1998-1999, Ghana |