Abstract:
An appraisal of intersectoral collaboration on PHC in the Asante-Akim North
District in October 1995 revealed that though PHC is high amongst the
developmental priorities of the Assembly, there is hardly any effort to coordinate
the activities of the various sectors engaged in the promotion o f PHC. Despite
much common ground for collaboration, horizontal linkages amongst the
decentralised departments engaged in PAC. activities remain weak or nonexistent
An analytical framework adapted from the work o f Susan Rifkin^ and others on
“Measuring Participation” was used to describe the extent of Intersectoral
collaboration in the district The extent of Intersectoral collaboration can be
described as limited.
The subcommittees established for the purpose o f preparing short, medium, and
long term plans on PHC for the District Assembly have been unable to perform
this role adequately. The members of these subcommittees have not been prepared
(through training) for their new roles. Consequently, they have been found to lack
the capacity to prepare district health development and promotion plans and to
advocate for their implementation as envisaged by Local government law, Act 462.
The DHMT has ceased to be multi sectoral because its past relationships with other
health related sectors were found to be unfruitful The team perceives the other
sectors as not committed to intersectoral health activities and therefore unwilling
to commit their resources to such activities.
In view of the fact that donor funded joint action plans were smoothly and
effectively implemented, it is believed that the implementation of composite
budgeting may facilitate the implementation of intersectoral PHC activities in the
future.
A training programme for the Assembly members elected to the subcommittees
and the staff of the Assembly is advocated to strengthen their capacity to perform
their expected roles. A “neutral” forum created and supported by the Assembly for
coordinating the activities of all health related sectors is also advocated to further
strengthen intersectoral collaboration in the district
