Devego health center in deplorable state; staff, residents cry for support

Since its establishment a couple of years ago, the Devego health center has not seen any renovation.

The facility admits patients from Devego, Xipe, Torkpo, Tadzewu, and other adjoining communities within the Ketu North Municipality, for out patients services.

Patients, especially pregnant women suffer the most, when it comes to the poor state of the facility, coupled with the canker of under staffing.

According to Miss Gloria Boafo, a nurse at the facility, each time pregnant women come for delivery, things become more difficult as there is no convenient toilet facilty or urinal.

What's worse is the unavailability of bathrooms for new mothers to take their baths.

"We are facing a lot of challenges here, no toilet facility, the roofs are leaking, the place including the rooms become flooded when it rains, so we have to always mob the place to keep it dry when it rains." she said.

Miss Gloria also revealed that the facility faces water challenges as well.

"Another worrying thing is we have water problem too. There is a polytank outside, but it's too small and each time the water is finished, we are in trouble, pregnant women are in trouble".

"We are almost under staffed. Every morning, we have to walk here to clean and dust the place before we go back to dress and come back to attend to clients. We need cleaners who would take care of some of these things". she added.

A check at the facility by our reporter reveals that the ceilings of the building are leaking, the walls are cracked, generating panic among both staff and patients who fear that the facility may collapse soon.

Outside the facility is a one-seater delapidated KVIP which serves as a place of convenience for users of the facility.

The facility has only four functional beds that are used even in the most complicated situations.

Residents say they are sometimes forced to stay at home whenever they are sick or travel some distance to access health care at any other facility as a result of the devastating state of the facility. They are therefore calling on NGOs, and other stakeholders to come to their aid.