World Vision Ghana supports Saamang community with a clinic

The facility, which also comes with a mobile clinic van, is expected to enhance general healthcare delivery, improve on accessibility, while providing quality healthcare services for the community members and other adjoining communities to achieve a Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Impact
The GH¢1.6 million facility is expected to benefit close to 46,000 people from over 13 communities within the District.
The facility, funded by KIA Motors, is a five-year health project, comprising of a maternity ward, labour ward, dispensary unit, washrooms for both staff and patients, laboratory, dressing room, injection room, and a consultation room, among others.
It was partnered by World Vision Korea with support from the Ghana Health Service, the District Assembly and the Department of Food and Agriculture.
Accessing proper healthcare has been a major challenge to the community over the years as the only available Community Health and Planning Services (CHPS) was operated from within a constrained apartment of the chief’s palace with only two nurse assistants. This situation compelled residents to travel several miles to access health care.
But speaking at a ceremony to officially hand over the facility to the community, Mr Dickens Thunde, the National Director of World Vision Ghana said the project would ensure that maternal and child mortalities and morbidities within the District were reduced drastically.
He said even though government’s policies on maternal and child had ensured a decline in child mortality rates over the years, the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey revealed that there was still more to be done to achieve a-zero child mortality.
The 2014 Ghana Demographic and Survey pegged the infant mortality rate of the country at 41 deaths per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality at 60 deaths per 1,000 live births.
“At these levels, one in every 24 Ghanaian children dies before reaching the age one and one in every 17 does not survive to his or her fifth birthday,” he said.
While commending government for its commitment towards the establishment of CHPS compounds across the country to enhance accessibility, Mr. Thunde called for collaborative efforts between stakeholders to ensure UHC and attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
He urged the management of the facility to ensure that accrued revenues from its operations were judiciously managed to ensure continuous service delivery.
A representative from the Ghana Health Service, Mr. Peter Boateng, said for Universal Health Care to be achieved there was the need for increased geographical access, improved financial access and provision of quality health service.
He said the facility would, therefore, help in addressing the health care gap in the Region and improve on accessibility.
Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Team of KIA Motors, Mr. Roh Kye Hwan, said as a global automobile company, it would continue to improve the wellbeing of people around the world.
On his part, Mr Kim Sung Soo, the Korean Ambassador said he was optimistic such projects would strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfuor, expressed his appreciation and urged the community to help maintain the facility to prolong its lifespan.
He was confident that KIA Motors and World Vision of both countries will provide the strong leadership needed to effectively and efficiently coordinate all the relevant institutions so that the Mobile Clinic can become fully and sustainably successful completion of the project.

Source: thefinderonline.com