HO MUNICIPALITY

The Ho Municipal Assembly established by Legislative Instrument 1796 of 2004, is the Highest Political and Administrative Authority in the Ho Municipality. The Structure of the Assembly is made up of the Municipal Co-ordinating Directorate and eleven (11) Decentralized Departments. A very important Component of the structure is the Municipal Planning Co-ordinating Unit (MPCU) which is responsible for Co-ordinating the development planning activities of the Assembly.

The Municipal Assembly is headed by the Municipal Chief Executive as the direct Representative of the President in the Municipality.The total population of Ho Municipality is about 200,000 according to the year 2000 population and housing census. The urban population comprising three towns in the Municipality as details in being   37%   while   the   rural   population is 126,107 being 63%

The District Assembly has done a lot to promote the development of infrastructure required by the tourism industry. These include good roads to areas of tourist interest, good telecommunication facilities, good health facilities and comprehensive information on tourism in the district. The District Assembly has several resthouses and the private sector already owns and manages several hotels and guesthouses which stand out as pace – setters in the hospitality industry.

These include the beautiful geographical scenery in the Avatime, Ashanti Kpoeta, Awudome and Abutia areas. There are waterfalls at Gbadzeme Amedzofe and Ashanti Kpoeta, which run throughout the year. Relics and buildings of German Colonials exist at Ho, Abutia Agorve, Adakla Kpodzei, Ashanti Kpoeta and Amedzofe.

The Kalakpe Game Production Reserve at Adaklu-Abutia area presents the natural habitat for biodiversity and provides immense potential for eco-tourism in the district. Then there is the traditional Kente Industry in Agortime area, where indeed, the Kente industry is believed to have originated.

In general, the health status of the people in the Ho municipality is improving gradually. More infants and young children are surviving and adults are living longer. However there exists some cultural and religious resistance to the use of modern drugs to treat illnesses, resulting in fluctuating figures in the health indicators like maternal mortality rate, Infant mortality rate, Measles, Malaria, and Guinea worm cases .

Some of the Activities carried out include:

1.     Monthly visits to all the Communities: Community - Based Surveillance Volunteers in their respective communities help surveillance officers from the municipal health directorate.

2.     Worn -out filters were replaced in all the endemic villages by Disease control officer from the Municipal health directorate.

3.     Health Education activities were also carried out in endemic communities.

4.     Active Case search was organized by Disease control officers.

5.     Abate application was consistently done in the endemic communities.

Health Education
Health education talks were given in the various Sub-Municipalities on the following topics: Abortion, Malaria, Typhoid fever, worm infestation, HIV/AIDS STI, Tuberculosis, Birth control, Personal hygiene and Adolescent Reproductive Health.  HIV Cases.  Ho Municipal Hospital is one of the 35 sentinel sites chosen for HIV prevalence monitoring in the Country. However, the infection rate in the municipality is still high; hence the Municipal health directorate in collaboration with NGO’s provides care for people living with HIV/AIDS. A total of 437 clients were referred for voluntary counselling and testing HIV/AIDS at the Municipal Hospital. Out of this number, 71 males and 104 females tested positive. The affected were referred to Atua Government Hospital for further management.

The Ante Natal
Care clinic in the municipal hospital had screened a total of 85 mothers between May -December 2005, and 4 were found to be positive but only one of them was actually put on treatment (Nivapine tablet).

Health Related Population Management
Family planning services are rendered at all government facilities and private health facilities by Community Health Nurses during their outreach activities in the communities. In - service Training in family planning counselling has been organized for almost all the midwives in the municipality to improve their services and to increase coverage.  The midwives render family planning services daily to women who visit them to deliver, and follow it up with Post - Natal Care.

Health Education is given on family planning and its Advantages at child welfare clinics and during home visits.     Family life Education (sex education) is also given to schools and churches. The Doctor - Population ratio is 1: 37,913 and the Nurse - Population is 1:2,399
Health Facilities. The Ho municipality has a total of 45 health institutions out of which 33 are being managed by Ghana Health Services. The rest are for Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and other Organizations and individuals.

Infrastructure
The Ho Municipality has a total of 45 health facilities out of which 43 are under the Ghana Health Service and the rest are Mission and Private owned.

Constraints
The following are some of the numerous constraints that exist in the municipality:

     Poor and dilapidated infrastructure

     Lack of portable water at the various health facilities

     Poor road network hence the frequent break down of vehicles

     Health facilities in rented premises (Ziavi & Hodzo Centres) and others with no Health facility

     Lack of accommodation for health staff

     Lack of toilet facilities

     Inadequate and obsolete equipment

     Infestation of termites in some health facilities

     Inadequate motorbikes and vaccine refrigerators

Communities covered