Residents of Pologo and Dubila in the Bolgatanga East District of the Upper East Region are expected to have improved access to healthcare following the completion and commissioning of two Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds under the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project.
The facilities are expected to provide dedicated spaces for health workers who previously operated from other health facilities and had to transport medical equipment and supplies to serve residents.
Commissioning the facilities, the Bolgatanga East District Chief Executive, Jacob Abugre Aka-Eri, said the Pologo CHPS compound was initiated in 2024, while the Dubila facility was started by the Ministry of Health in 2013 but abandoned around 2017.
He explained that the Assembly subsequently secured support under the SOCO project to complete the facilities.
“The other project at Dubila was started in 2013 by the Ministry of Health. It was abandoned somehow in 2017, and we later repackaged it under SOCO. Today, we are handing it over to the community for use,” he stated.
Mr Aka-Eri said the two communities had struggled with inadequate healthcare infrastructure for years, prompting repeated appeals from residents and community leaders.
He recalled that during his tenure as an assembly member, residents of Pologo had consistently demanded a CHPS compound to improve access to basic healthcare.
According to him, completing the projects would help address some of the challenges residents faced in accessing healthcare services.
The DCE urged community members to take ownership of the facilities, ensure their proper maintenance and make use of the healthcare services available.
“My prayer is that the community will put it to good use to benefit everyone,” he said.
He also encouraged residents to seek basic healthcare at the new compounds rather than travelling to other facilities unnecessarily.
The SOCO Zonal Coordinator, Samuel Larbi, explained that the projects were selected through a community-driven approach that allowed residents to identify their development priorities.
He said communities submitted their needs through Community Action Plans to the District Assembly for consideration under the SOCO programme.
“SOCO operates using the bottom-up approach. The community will prepare a Community Action Plan and give it to us through the Assembly,” he explained.
Mr Larbi said a Community Action Plan submitted in 2024 identified the need to complete a CHPS compound, while the unfinished Dubila facility was also assessed and selected for completion.
For her part, the Bolgatanga East District Director of Health Services, Maria Mahama, said the facilities would improve working conditions for health personnel and strengthen healthcare delivery in the two communities.
She explained that health workers previously operated from their parent health facilities and had to move medical equipment and other essential supplies between locations to provide services.
According to her, the newly completed compounds would provide permanent spaces for health workers to deliver services and securely store medical equipment.
“Today, we are taking over this new edifice. It now means that they have access to a new health facility and service delivery area to equally keep their things and also bring healthcare closer to the people,” she stated.
Madam Mahama expressed optimism that the facilities would improve access to basic healthcare and reduce the difficulties residents faced in seeking medical attention.
The commissioning ceremonies were attended by traditional leaders, District Assembly officials, health workers and young people from the beneficiary communities.
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