Where We Work

Ghana

The Health Policy Initiative completed its activities in Ghana on September 29, 2010.

Task Order 1 of the USAID | Health Policy Initiative in Ghana supported policy development and implementation to improve the enabling environment for health. The project focused on two areas: the effective use of data in HIV-related decisionmaking and the use of policy dialogue to improve equitable access to family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) services.

In 2006–2007, the project, in collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), successfully applied the Goals Model to help stakeholders conduct effective advocacy for HIV-related policy change. In 2010, the Health Policy Initiative worked with the GAC to update the Goals Model application and used it to generate costing information for Ghana's new National HIV/AIDS Strategic Framework (NSF-III). Through Phase II of the Midwife Mapping Project, the project also facilitated dialogue on adopting policies and guidelines that support effective midwife recruitment and retention to eliminate geographical disparities in the coverage of midwifery services. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Ghana AIDS Commission Allocates Resources to Most-At-Risk Populations.  Following the Goals Model application, which found that prevention efforts targeting female sex workers (FSWs) and men who have sex with men (MSM) were essential in reducing HIV incidence, the GAC decided to shift its policy. For the first time, the GAC allocated National Strategic Framework resources for prevention interventions directed at FSWs and MSM (in its original NSF-II budget, due to cultural beliefs and political sensitivity, the GAC would not allocate any resources to interventions for these groups). This policy change represents significant progress in Ghana's national HIV/AIDS response as a result of evidence-based decisionmaking.

National Health Insurance Council Explores Adding Family Planning to Benefits.  The project facilitated policy dialogue with key reproductive health stakeholders, and prepared a report based on their policy recommendations.  The report, "Midwife Mapping Project: Moving Policy Recommendations into Implementable Actions," emphasizes the critical importance of funding FP/RH activities and recommends that family planning be incorporated into national health insurance benefits. It also advocates for the immediate provision of basic insurance and social protection for all women of childbearing age.  After the report was presented to the National Health Insurance Council (NHIC), the NHIC began to develop a new drug list and benefit package that includes family planning benefits. When the NHIC completes its work, FP/RH services will become more accessible, including maternal and newborn healthcare services.

Last Updated 11/24/10