The Bongo District Chief Executive, Diana Asoketarige Ayamga, and Member of Parliament Charles Bawa Dua have provided hospital equipment and streetlights to St Theresa Health Centre at Zorko Tarongo in the Upper East Region.
The support includes four hospital beds, a refrigerator for storing vaccines and four streetlights. They have also supported the roofing of a section of the health facility that had been left exposed to rain.
The intervention followed appeals from traditional leaders and Assembly Members over inadequate equipment at the health centre and poor lighting in the community.
Speaking during the presentation, Madam Ayamga said community leaders had raised concerns about the lack of beds for patients who needed to remain at the facility for observation.
“According to the chiefs, their community was in darkness and needed our help. They also told us that there were no hospital beds to accommodate patients who visited the facility for healthcare. Sometimes, patients had to stay for about six or seven hours before receiving the necessary attention and being allowed to go home,” she said.
She said the health centre also lacked a refrigerator for vaccines and had an unroofed section that allowed rainwater into the facility during the rainy season.
“They also complained that there was no fridge at the facility to store some of the vaccines. There was also a portion of the facility that was unroofed and was always leaking during the rainy season. They appealed to me to help roof that section so that when patients come, they can be admitted and properly taken care of,” she said.
Madam Ayamga said she subsequently discussed the concerns with the Bongo MP, who agreed to work with her to address some of the challenges.
“I consulted the MP, and he was also very happy with the idea. So, the MP and I collaborated, and that is how we came up with four streetlights, four hospital beds and a fridge for the facility to store their vaccines. We have also roofed the unroofed section they appealed for,” she said.
The equipment is intended to address some of the immediate needs identified by the community at the health centre, while the streetlights are intended to improve lighting in the area.
The donation formed part of activities commemorating the birthday of the late Joseph Abaà Akasake, a former Bongo District Chief Executive.
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