Vital community health facility shut down

The only Community-Based Health Planning Services (CHIPS) facility, which serves the over 4000 residents of Benyadze in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem Municipality,(KEEAMA)in the Central region has been shut down, forcing residents to trek long distance to neighboring towns for medical care.

The chiefs and people of Benyadze have bemoaned the closure and called on the Ministry of Health to ensure the rehabilitation and re-opening of the center to forestall any calamity.

The residents would have to go to neighboring Kissi, Agona, Bronyibima or Ayensudu for health care.

In an interview with Joy News’ Mercy Adjabeng, Chief of Benyadze Nana Kwamina Wire II, lamented the challenges confronting his people as a result of the situation.

He explained that the health facility which had been a death trap due to the shoddy work done by the contractor, was closed down by the Health authorities following the Melcom disaster in November 2012.

“Even though letters have been written to the Municipal Director of Health and Municipal Chief Executive, we have not received any help because we’re told there’s no money. I must however add that the incumbent and out-gone Members of Parliament for the area have not been approached yet,” he noted.

He therefore appealed to the health authorities to expedite action on the issue.

The Community Based Health Planning Services (CHIPS) facility, which was built in 2003 with funds from the Assembly, was closed down in November last year due to deep cracks on almost all walls.

The CHIPS Programme is a health initiative aimed at improving accessibility and quality of health and family planning care at the community level is however running down.