THE CONCEPT OF CHPS

Easmon OTUPIRI

The definition of CHPS Definition

CHPS is the acronym for Community based Health Planning and Services It is can defined as

PROCESS, POLICY and a STRATEGY

CHPS as a PROCESS
All stakeholders in health participating in planning, implementation, monitoring & evaluation of health service delivery at community & household levels

CHPS as a National Policy

The MOH /GHS has decided to implement the CHPS strategy as a part of health policy of Ghana

CHPS is in line with the vision & mission statement of the GHS/MOH as detailed in the Medium Term Health Strategy.

As a National policy
CHPS policy GOAL is to improve health status of people living in Ghana by empowering households & communities to produce good health for wealth creation Policy OBJECTIVES

Improve Access to health services Improve Efficiency and Responsiveness to Client Needs Develop Effective Inter-sectoral Collaboration

The TARGET is to provide health care to all Ghanaians through CHPS by 2015

As a Strategy
CHPS encourages all stakeholders to work together to empower & make health services accessible to households through participatory planning, resources mobilisation, implementation, and monitoring & evaluation of service delivery

Key Components of CHPS

1.

Strategic planning
Situation analysis Consultations among stakeholders Zoning of whole district Prioritizing zones for implementation

2.

Implementation planning
Community, CHO & stakeholders preparation Construction of CHO compound Mobilization of equipment & logistics Selection & development of volunteers Launching of programme

Why CHPS is so important?

Local & Global Driving Forces

Households

CHPS
Government Communities

Because CHPS targets the households who are the producers of health

Strategic focus of CHPS Implementation

Building partnerships & collaboration among govt agencies, development partners & NGOs for synergy All efforts directed towards empowerment of households & communities for good health & wealth creation

1. Different scenarios of CHPS in Action

1.

2.

3.

Urban Centre settings Assigning staff to defined communities geographically or socio-cultural groupings Medium to large communities Placing more than one staff but still using CHPS approach Small communities- One staff responsible for more than one community.

2. Reorienting existing systems to apply the

CHPS process:
1.

2.

Urban HC/polyclinic- Staff can be reassigned to defined areas or social groupings defined to work there full time Or on agreed number of days/period applying CHPS. Rural HCs/clinics -Retraining staff to apply CHPS strategy- defining areas for specific staff to apply CHPS

Key CHPS Activities

Investment Capacity building Partnership & collaboration Service delivery

Investment activities

Construction & furnishing of CHPS compounds with potable water & lighting Communication Means of transport

Capacity building

CHO & supervisors Training & retraining Supervisory support Logistic support

Challenges/Constraints
1.

2.
3. 4.

5.

6.

Inadequate staffing Slow construction of compounds Inadequate funds for programme Inadequate logistics, equipment and transport for service delivery. Some compounds have no water and toilet facilities Concept of CHPS not understood by some stakeholders.

Thank you