Sissala East using CHPS compound model for universal health coverage
The Sissala East Municipal Assembly has made significant efforts in the implementation of the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compound concept.
The move is in keeping with the Assembly’s vision to achieve universal health coverage and healthy population by improving the health status of all the people in the Municipality.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Sissala East, Karim Nanyua announced this at “Meet the Press” series at Tumu in the Upper West region.
Statistics suggest that over 80% of the population of the Municipality is accessing healthcare through CHPS compound concept.
The MCE, Nayua talked about the commitment the Sissala East Municipal Assembly has shown towards improving the health status of the people and outlined some projects: “Taffiasi CHPS has been constructed ready for handing over, Sakalu CHPS and Kusunjan completed and it is in use, Challu and Kassana CHPS completed, furnished and handed over for use, Kulfuo maternity ward completed yet to be handed over, Kurobi CHPS supported with swivel chairs, …and lobbied for a new Ambulance from Alhaji Inusah Foundation which is a major boost in the referral system.”
Touching on agriculture, Mr. Nayua indicated that the sector remains the live wire of the Sissala East economy, employing between 90 to 95% of the workforce in the Municipality.
Apart from the sector ensuring food security, it plays a key role in poverty alleviation among smallholder farmers in the Municipality.
As a way of giving a further boost to agriculture extension services, the Municipal Department of Agriculture was given 13 motorbikes and brand new Nissan pick-up.
In respect of educational infrastructure, from 2017 up to now, 21 physical infrastructure development projects have been initiated.
Giving an update on the security situation in his area, the MCE observed that: “The Security situation of the Municipality has improved tremendously over the past two and a half years. The crime rate has dropped significantly, especially in relation to armed robbery and stealing.”
Under the sustainable Land and Water Management Project (SLWMP), two new dams have been constructed at Jijen and Santie whilst another which was washed away at Bugubelle in 2018 has been rehabilitated. Per the account of Mr. Nanyua, “all the three dams are fenced and ready animal watering as well as dry season gardening”.
The SLWMP equally supported 855 farmers in Behamboi, Nanchalla, and Sakalu with ploughing, bonding, and contouring. Eighty-six farmers in the three communities were given six thousand, 450 (6,450) cashew seedling whilst other farmers had certified seeds and fertilizers.
The Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Amidu Chinnia Issahaku declared that as a result of the President’s directive for the granting of scholarships to be decentralized across the country, 57 students from Sissala East Municipality have benefitted this year.
He said 84 thousand Ghana Cedis has been disbursed to assist students who getting into tertiary institutions.
The Deputy Regional Minister pointed out that the Agric sector employs over 65% of Ghanaians but in the Upper West, particularly Sissala East Municipality, over 80% of the people are directly or indirectly employed in the Agric sector.
Mr. Issahaku announced that Sissala East Municipality is a beneficiary of the 43 mechanization centers being established across Ghana this year.
Source: Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo|gbcghanaonline.com
