Tinga, a farming community in the Bole District of Northern region, has over the years been grappling with the deterioration of essential facilities in the only health centre in the district.
The health centre, which was commissioned in 1974, serves a population of more than fifteen thousand, and has no adequate water supply, electricity power to work with, yet the workers are committed to their duties.
Consequently, the management of the centre has called on government to make available resources that will help enhance their work.
In an interview with TODAY, the head of the center, Mr James Jage said the post was deprived of electricity and water supply by a road construction firm, Ghanem Construction Company, when they embarked on the construction of the Wenchi–Wa road some years ago.
According to him, several efforts and intervention by the regional administration to persuade Ghanem Company Ltd., to restore these essential services at the center, has proven futile. This, he disclosed, compels staff of the centre to work under very strenuous conditions.
Mr Jage pointed out that in view of the perennial water shortage, the Bole District Assembly recently dug a hand-pump bore hole to ameliorate the suffering of the increasing number of expectant mothers patronizing the heath post for safe delivery and medication.
He went on to say that the lack of electricity at the post is adversely impacting on the service delivery, adding that the construction of the Wa road has brought enormous challenges to his outfit.
The situation in the night, Mr Jage indicated, becomes very bad as they are forced to work without electricity.
He praised the Minister of Health, Dr Benjamin Kumbour, for being the first government official to have in recent times visited the center and assured them of government’s support.
He said the assurance from the minister that the center was being considered for an elevation to the status of a polyclinic medical centre in the catchment area which covers twenty-seven (27) communities was something they cannot wait for.
Mr Jage, however, appealed to benevolence organizations, philanthropists and electrical companies to assist the center with a generator which could help prevent reptiles such as snakes and other poisonous animals from invading the wards and staff quarters which are already in very deplorable state.
“We would be more appreciative if non-governmental organizations (NGOs) could support the need of this deprived health center in the area of an electric generator which could change the fortunes of the entire staff in their efforts to contribute their quota in the nation’s quest to administer healthy safe delivery to its citizenry,” he noted.
Mr Jage commended the midwife of the center, Miss Ramatu Khadiri, and the other workers for their hard work, commitment and humanitarian service in the face of poor conditions of service.
STORY: FROM ANTHONY KWESI COOMSON, BOLE DISTRICT, N/R.