A Professor of Statistics at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Professor Atinuke Olusola Adebanji, has called for the use of statistical literacy and policy-monitoring processes to ensure that decisions are evidence-based and informed by reliable data to address healthcare problems. Professor Adebanji made this known in her Professorial Inaugural Lecture on the 22nd February 2024 on the topic: Facts from Artefacts: A Journey in Statistical Inquisition.
According to her, statistical analysis should form a cornerstone of the policy-making process, ensuring decisions are rooted in evidence and robust data. She called on the Ghana Health Service to prioritise investing in capacity-building programmes for healthcare professionals, focusing on enhancing skills in data collection and analysis. This, she noted, will enable real-time evaluation of healthcare interventions and their impact on maternal and child health outcomes, facilitating data-driven decision-making.
