The Member of Parliament (MP) for Achiase in the Eastern Region, Hon. Robert Kwasi Amoah has observed that “Health is worth and that the first in worth is Health”.
Subsequently, he has provided five (5) communities in his constituency with well-equipped CHIP compounds, not only to ensure their health needs, but also to facilitate their movement to these facilities with proximity and ease.
The MP made this known when he commissioned three of these facilities over the week-end. The beneficiary communities were, Anamase, Anyinam Kotoku and Oworase, with those at Asikaso and Nyankomase in the process in due course. Also, he has provided the facilities with a Nisssan pick-up to serve as health bullion van. This is because roads in the district are too bad, but with the 4×4 pick-up, it can serve their purposes according to him, he obtained this through his health fund.
He pointed out that moving long distance for medical attention was not only inconvenient, but also painful. It was against this background that he decided to bring health facilities so close to them. He expressed sadness at the passing away of a young man for snake bit at Asikaso sometime back, saying that if there were close CHIP compounds, it could have been avoided.
Hon Amoah maintained that even though it was difficult, he intends making health facilities close to the people as possible as he could. As such, he plans to supply the people with clinics. In this respect, he has supplied Akinkensu clinic with water, which it was lacking.
He charged the people to do well to maintain the facilities for the present and future generations.
The MP pointed out that the Minister of Health, Hon. Kwaku Agyemang Manu had stated that 8 clinics in the Eastern Region will be upgraded to Poly-clinic status and it includes the Achiase clinic. Also, those chip compounds at Nyankomase and Asikaso are yet to be commissioned.
Hon. Amoah maintained that he intended giving ambulances to the health facilities. However, government had gone ahead to provide one for each constituency. All the same, his plans were still in force.
Referrals
The MP expressed worry at referral cases in which, victims have to look for beds from their referral places, even in such big hospitals as Korle-Bu. The MP recounted with regret how he fell victim to this and he had to lose his wife. According to him, such cass were national and deserved the attention of all.
The Regional Minister, Hon. Eric Darffour Kwakye, who also doubles as Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkawkaw charged the people to be weary of their eating habits since people acquire a lot of sickness through this, cautioning people against “Yebu didi” syndrome. While urging the people to take a better care of the facility, he charged them against filth, stressing that Assemblies spend huge amount on garbage haulage. These amounts, he noted could be used in terms of medical needs for the people. He subsequently urged them to keep their environments clean, eat balanced food, take in more fruits and water, while visiting the hospital regularly to check on their health status.
Hon. Kwakye also charged the paramedics to be clinical to patients since that alone could go a long way to cure patients. While urging them to keep the landscape well and neat, he charged them to decorate the place with much fona and fora to help imbibe the place with nature.
Also there should be recreational and sleeping places for paramedics. The minister pointed out that government was bent on renovating and upgrading hospitals in the region. In this respect, a comprehensive health package had been lined up. This included the upgrading of the Aburi Hospital to a 60-70 bed facility. He pointed out that since its establishment in 1897, it has never undergone any repairs.
He said government had procured a 14 million Euro facility for the Teteh Quarshie Hospital at Akropong Akuapim, which he said had seen no repairs since it was built in 1961. With the Kyebi Hospital, he said a 12 million Euro facility had been procured by government for it to be upgraded. With the Atibie Hospital, a 14 million Euro loan had been procured for its upliftment. With Koforidua Hospital, which he said was congested, the Minister pointed out that a 70 million Euro facility had been procured for its upliftment into an ultra-modern hospital.
Hon. Kwakye maintained that it was in the face of all this that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led-NPP government deserves a second term of four years to continue its good works.
The District Director of Health, Md. Stella Konadu commended the MP for these facilities. She maintained that hitherto, working at the place was difficult. However, with these facilities, they had facilitated work there. According to her, with a population of over 98,000 and in this era of Universal Health Care (UHC) the people needed a number of health facilities to keep them going. And this includes clinics and chip compounds as provided by the MP. While thanking the MP and the people for their co-operation, she charged them to take a better care of the facilities for now and here-after. She requested a committee to man the facilities and also security for workers.
Chief Praises MP
The Chief of Osroase, praised the MP for what he described as the unprecedented feat he had chalked. He noted that though he (MP) is of little words his outstanding works spoke for him because “Actions speak louder than words”.
Nana pointed out that the MPs works included the construction of new schools and the rehabilitation of old ones, Health facilities, water, roads and many more. While describing the MP as affable and approachable, Nana could not contemplate how the people should kill the hen that lays the golden egg, and go for a male one”. He seized the opportunity to urge the people especially delegates to give the MP four (4) more years to continue his good works.
Source: Akyenaa Boadi & S.O. Ankamah