The Ghana Health Service, in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has held a validation meeting for data collected under the Maternal and Child Health Record Book (MCH-RB) Impact Evaluation Study.
The meeting held on Thursday in Accra marked a significant step toward strengthening evidence-based maternal and child health interventions in the country.
Speaking on behalf of the GHS Director-General, the Director of Family Health Division, Dr Kennedy T. C. Brightson, stated the importance of research in guiding policy formulation and improving service delivery outcomes.
He noted the significance of merging the two existing record books into a unified Maternal and Child Health Record Book, adding that the integration enhances data capture, continuity of care, and tracking of maternal and child health indicators across the lifecycle.
He said the validation meeting was convened to ensure the credibility and accuracy of the data collected under the impact evaluation survey.
“The study provides Ghana with an opportunity to replicate best practices implemented successfully in other parts of the world, adapting global evidence to the local context to improve maternal and child health outcomes,” he emphasised.
He expressed sincere appreciation to the Regional Health Directorates and their teams for their dedication and technical support throughout the data collection process, while extending gratitude to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for its continued partnership and commitment to strengthening Ghana’s health system.
On his part, the Deputy Country Representative of JICA, Mr Oda Ryataro, indicated that JICA’s partnership in the project demonstrates a shared commitment between Ghana and Japan to improving healthcare delivery, particularly for mothers and children.
He reiterated JICA’s support for initiatives that promote quality data, accountability, and sustainable health system improvements.
Dr Akiko Hagiwara, Advisor on Health at JICA and Co-Principal Investigator for the project, outlined the objectives, methodology, and scope of the study.
She explained that the evaluation seeks to assess the effectiveness of the integrated Maternal and Child Health Record Book in improving service utilisation, data quality, and health outcomes.
Dr Cornelius Debpuur, Principal Investigator, detailed the study design, sampling approach, and preliminary findings and guided participants through the key indicators assessed and highlighted areas requiring further refinement before finalisation of the report.
Grace Acheampong, ISD
