GOVT COMMISSIONS FIVE HEALTH FACILITIES IN N/R

An estimated five hundred thousand (500,000) people from all over the Northern Region of Ghana would benefit from five (5) ultramodern polyclinics situated in Karaga, Kpandai, Janga (West Mamprusi), Tatale and Chereponi Districts. 

The five health facilities executed with a loan facility from the Government of Austria (through Bank Austria Creditanstalt AG) estimated at EUR 7,650,000.00 which has a grant component of 41.3 percent, would provide quality healthcare to the people of these districts and their environs to ensure they are healthy to enhance productivity.

The Vice President of the republic, John Dramani Mahama who officially inaugurated these health centres simultaneously recently, reiterated government’s commitment in providing more health facilities in the rural areas. 

The Northern Region is one of the deprived areas in the country where there is evidence that physical access to healthcare poses a great challenge. There are huge service provisions gaps due to the absence of health facilities at the proposed sites. This situation poses a greater danger since people would have to travel long distances to access healthcare.

For instance, in the last ten years health status indicators including maternal health, child health, nutrition, coverage of clinical services, public health and reproductive health services have all been soaring. Non-communicable diseases including road traffic accidents, hypertension, diabetes and cancers are also becoming major causes of morbidity and mortality in the area.   

But commendably, the health sector has made some progress in meeting clients’ expectations and promoting effective clinical service delivery. One of the cardinal areas of emphasis in Government’s 5-year Programme of work (2007-2011) focuses on increasing access to healthcare. The National Health Insurance Scheme has been set up to provide access to health services for all citizens, especially the poor and vulnerable. This has therefore increased the Out-patients cases countrywide.

Thus, the five polyclinics built in the Northern Region and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities comprising of 15 beds (male, female, paediatric and delivery), laboratory, sterilization, dirty and clean utility, pharmacy and dispensary, administration, store, janitor, staff rooms, consulting rooms, hall and waiting area, among other facilities, would significantly strengthen many key intervention areas aimed at achieving the Millennium Development Goal 4.

Minister for Health, Mr. Joseph Yiele Chireh who was also at the commissioning of the polyclinics, announced to the people that doctors have been put at post to serve the people and urged other health workers to accept postings to the rural areas.

He commended those who had been there already promising them of equal opportunities as their colleagues in the towns and cities.

Mr. Yiele Chireh appealed to the people to coexist peacefully in order to attract more developmental projects to their respective communities.

Meanwhile, the Vice President John Mahama later donated a box of solar rechargeable lamps to the Janga Naa to be distributed to nurses and teachers, and promised that the government would see to it that the road to Janga which was in a bad shape would be constructed in due course.