Dachio (U/E), Jan. 15, GNA – Residents and health workers at the Dachio Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound in the Bolgatanga East District have appealed to individuals, groups and organisations to support the completion of a self-initiated maternity and child welfare block to improve maternal and child healthcare delivery.
The appeal was made by Ms Ramatu Halutie Ahmed, the Katanga Sub-district Leader of the Ghana Health Service, and Mr Lawrence Akurigo, a resident and Chairman of the Community Health Management Committee, in an interview on the sidelines of a presentation of medical equipment donated by Alagumgube USA, a diaspora group based in the United States.
The maternity block and weighing centre was started by residents of the community through the initiative of the Community Health Management Committee, with funds from individual contributions, in 2025.
However, the project, parts of which are almost at lintel level while other sections remain at foundation level, has stalled due to lack of funds.
Ms Ahmed said the existing maternity and labour room at the facility was extremely small and inadequate for the safe and dignified delivery of maternal health services.
“If you see the labour room and they tell you that is the labour room, you won’t believe it. It is too small even for the midwife to stand and conduct delivery, but we are managing because we have no option,” she said.
She explained that the community initiated the construction of the maternity block through its health committee to address the space constraints, but progress had stalled due to financial challenges.
She said the incomplete block was also intended to serve as an antenatal care and child welfare centre to provide shelter for mothers and children, particularly during adverse weather conditions.
“Currently, we weigh children under a tree. When it is raining, mothers are discouraged from bringing their children. We need a decent place where mothers can comfortably access services,” she said.
Ms Ahmed called on benevolent individuals, diaspora groups and development partners to support the completion of the maternity and weighing centre, stressing that even modest contributions could make a significant difference.
“All we need is for someone to help us complete the building. It can be an individual or a group. With that support, maternal and child healthcare delivery in this community will greatly improve,” she said.
Ms Ahmed further highlighted accommodation challenges for staff, explaining that service delivery areas were currently combined with residential spaces, compromising privacy and quality of care.
“Sometimes a client comes when you are cooking and the aroma fills the consulting room. Ideally, accommodation should be separated from service delivery areas to ensure professionalism and comfort for clients,” she said.
She also appealed for the establishment of a standard laboratory in the district, noting that pregnant women were often referred to the Bolgatanga Municipality for basic investigations due to the absence of laboratory services in Bolgatanga East.
“All pregnant women are referred to Bolgatanga Municipal for investigations. We do not know their haemoglobin levels or other basic indicators, and this is a major challenge for us,” she said.
On his part, Mr Akurigo appealed to residents and stakeholders to continue supporting the project to ensure its completion and improve maternal and child health outcomes in the community.
Source: GNA