Community takes responsibility for own health needs

The chiefs and people of Obenimase, a farming community in the Asante-Akim Central Municipality, have taken the initiative to enhance their access to quality healthcare.

They have refurbished an old Post Office building into a Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound.

The people did this using their own financial resources and also contributed labour.

Madam Leticia Mary Addae, the assembly member, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr. Kwame Anyimadu Antwi, supported them.

He stepped in not only to ensure that the project was successfully completed but became functional - supplying it with the relevant logistics, while the district health directorate, complemented by posting health professionals to run the place.

Reporters of the nation’s wire service had gone to the area under STAR-Ghana’s media auditing and tracking of development projects, an initiative launched to put a spotlight on how government’s resources were helping to transform the lives of the people.

The goal is to aid transparency, promote accountability and good local governance.

Madam Addae described the CHPS as a “dream come true”, saying, this had been a topmost priority of the community.

The people, being predominantly farmers, are prone to all sorts of injuries and accidents and that when this happened it is important to have access to professional care.

She said the situation where the sick had to travel to Juansa, Konongo-Odumase and Agogo to seek medical care, was now effectively over.

Pregnant women have also been saved the trouble of attending antenatal and post-natal clinic outside of the community.

Madam Addae added that they would continue to take responsibility to improve their living conditions through self-help.