Smallholder farmers have difficulties accessing healthcare

Smallholder farmers in rural parts of the country are finding it very difficult accessing healthcare thus affecting food production.

This was made known during a Regional Forum organised by the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) held in Bolgatanga, on Wednesday.

The Programme Officer of the PFAG, Mr Charles Nyaba, said a STAR-Ghana funded research conducted by his outfit in selected communities in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions, confirmed that smallholder farmers found it difficult accessing health care.

He attributed the problem to lack of health infrastructure and transportation, shortage of health professionals, as well poor attitudes of health workers towards farmers.

Most smallholder farmers, he stressed, had to travel far to access health care, saying, the situation was even worse for pregnant women.

Smallholder farmers contribute 80 per cent to 90 per cent of the labour force to the agricultural sector; and more than 90 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product, yet many of them found it difficult to access health care, he stated.

Another major health challenge confronting smallholder farmers, he stated, was the inadequate knowledge of the operations of the NHIS, particularly, renewing and registration of the cards, as well as the absence of CHPS compounds in many of the farming communities.

Mr Nyaba indicated that through the support from STAR-Ghana his outfit was able to facilitate series of education and engagements in selected districts between the farmers and health providers, which had brought an appreciable level of changes, saying there was still more left to be done to make the situation better.

The participants, who were drawn from the Northern, Upper East, and Upper West Regions, stressed the need for government to prioritise the health needs of smallholder farmers, explaining that, they hold the key to food security in the country.

They also called for more CHPS compounds in farming communities, posting of more health workers there, improving upon the NHIS in rural areas and empowering farmers to renew and register with the scheme, as well as improving the road network.

The forum, which was on the theme: “Health Care Delivery in the Northern Sector”, aimed to address the health needs of the farmers.

It attracted stakeholders from the Ghana Health Services, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the National Health Insurance Scheme and Civil Society Organisations.