Health workers in the Gaani community in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality of the Upper East Region are rendering health service under a mango tree and a very harsh condition.
The situation the health workers say was due to a lack of available health facility in the community.
They added that they have been operating under the mango tree for years and have made several appeals to the municipal assembly but to no avail.
Though the health workers failed to speak on tape at the time of A1 Radio’s visit, one of them said the situation is making their work difficult and often challenged them to think of giving up their work in the community.
A resident who spoke to A1 Radio said: “We as community members have made several appeals to authorities but it seems our health and the health of our children are not important to them. Authorities do not care about us here…all that they want is our votes and not our health.”
Another also said the situation often forced them to resort to local herbalists for treatment instead of the “mango tree” health center.
“If you are sick and get to this place, your condition will even worsen because the environment alone will bring more sickness to you. I prefer the herbalist center to this ‘mango tree center’.”
A youth leader in the community, Joseph Aminini, who identified himself as the President of Gaani Concerned Citizens Association ( GACCA ) told A1 Radio that in 2017, their association was able to organize a homecoming ceremony in the community that was geared towards mobilizing resources in putting up a health facility.
The initiative he said came to light and they were able to put up a pavilion with two cubicles attached, but due to resources constraint, they have not been able to complete it.
Commenting on the sad situation, the acting Kassena-Nankana Municipal Chief Executive, William Aduum noted that it was last year that the situation came to the attention of the assembly and it has been working on how to devise resources to that effect.
Mr. Aduum however assured the health workers as well as residents that they will soon have a conducive health center to work in.
Source: a1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Ghana
