Youth-led initiative addresses healthcare gaps at Wli, Volta Region

More than 400 residents of Wli, a rural community in Ghana’s Volta Region, have benefited from a youth-led health intervention aimed at addressing persistent barriers to quality healthcare.

The Wli Community Health and Donation Project, implemented by the World Movers Team, focused on critical challenges at the Wli Central Health Center, including inadequate infrastructure, limited medical resources, and the absence of safe waiting areas for patients, particularly mothers and their newborns.

During a preliminary visit, Health practitioner-in-charge, Joana Essel, highlighted a recurring concern.

“On clinic days, over 50 mothers with their newborns sit outside under the sun or rain because we don’t have a place for them to stay,” the official said.

The lack of adequate infrastructure often forces patients to wait in uncomfortable and unsafe conditions, sometimes leading to missed medical follow-ups and increased health risks.

In response, the World Movers Team organised a comprehensive outreach programme that combined healthcare services, material support, and infrastructure development.

The initiative provided general health screenings, laboratory tests, medical consultations, and access to medications through an on-site pharmacy.

To strengthen the facility’s long-term capacity, the team also donated essential medical supplies, including diagnostic equipment, testing kits, and hygiene products.

A major outcome of the project was the construction of a 25-foot by 25-foot healthcare pavilion, offering a covered and dignified waiting and care space for mothers, children, and other patients at the health centre.

Beyond healthcare delivery, about 1,080 kilograms of clothing were distributed to community members of all ages and genders, helping to address additional immediate needs within the population.

The event received strong local support, with attendance from Togbe Agala II, Divisional Chief of the Wli Traditional Area; Regina Elanyo Daketsey, Assemblywoman for the Wli community; and Charles Kii Azaga, Municipal Director of Health Services for Hohoe.

The initiative was officially approved by municipal health authorities, underscoring the importance of collaboration between youth-led organisations and public health institutions.

The project was led by Dr Emele Arthur-Hayford, Founder and President of the World Movers Team, with support from 45 volunteers.