Health authorities complain about abandoned CHPS projects

The health authorities in the Atwima-Mponua District say they are deeply worried over the lack of progress on some community-based health planning and services (CHPS) compounds started in the area about seven years ago.

This, they said, is denying the people, majority of them, farmers in difficult-to-reach communities, access to quality health care, and labelled the state of affairs as “intolerable”. They had, therefore, made a plea to the district assembly to act without further delay to complete the facilities.

The CHPS compounds left abandoned are at Wansamire, Kuffour-Camp and Okyerekrom. Two others at Nkrumah and Nagode, though completed, are not operational because of lack of equipment and electricity.

Mr George Kwakwo Kyei-Fram, District Health Director, told Ghana News Agency (GNA), that the district has only one functional CHPS compound, located at Ahyiresu. Reporters of GNA had gone to the area under STAR-Ghana’s sponsored media auditing and tracking of development projects, an initiative launched to highlight on how government’s resources are helping to transform the lives of the people, particularly the rural population.

STAR-Ghana, a multi-donor pooled organisation is sponsoring the project to promote transparency, accountability and good governance. Mr Kyei-Fram said every effort should be made to finish the stalled projects, and build new ones at Anansu, Akonfere, Akonkye and Anyinamso, areas far away from the district hospital.

The area has three doctors - two Cuban nationals, and a medical assistant. Incidentally, the Cubans will be leaving by the end of July. Malaria, acute respiratory, infections, diarrhoea, worm infestation and skin diseases are the commonly reported cases in the area.

Mr Kyei-Fram said there is no ambulance for prompt response to emergencies in the district. He said despite the difficult circumstances under which they worked, they were committed to improve maternal health care and provide quality of health to the people.