Bimbilla: Bishop Yitiereh commissions maternal and child health block at Juasi to boost rural healthcare
In a major step towards improving maternal and neonatal health in rural Ghana, the Catholic Bishop of Yendi, Most Rev. Matthew Yitiereh, has commissioned a newly constructed Maternal and Child Health Block at the St. Elizabeth Catholic Health Clinic in Juasi.
The facility, fully funded by the Spanish Catholic NGO Manos Unidas, aims to bring essential health services closer to underserved communities in the Nanumba North Municipality of the Northern Region.
A lifeline for vulnerable women and children
At a ceremony attended by community members, health workers, traditional leaders, and government officials, Bishop Yitiereh described the event as “one of the most joyful moments” of his life.
“This project is very dear to my heart. It will serve the most vulnerable in our communities—women and children. It is heartbreaking to hear of women dying in childbirth or children dying soon after delivery,” he said.
The Bishop emphasised that the facility will drastically reduce the distance rural families must travel to access quality healthcare, helping them save money from their modest farm incomes for nutrition and disease prevention.
Equipped for life-saving interventions
The new health block is fitted with modern equipment including ultrasound scan machines, baby incubators, and oxygen concentrators. It will provide antenatal services, labour and delivery monitoring, and neonatal intensive care for newborns.
“For the first time, pregnant women in Juasi and surrounding communities can undergo ultrasound scans in their own community,” Bishop Yitiereh said. “This means early detection of complications and timely referrals—critical to reducing maternal and infant deaths.”
He called on clinic staff to demonstrate professionalism, compassion, and cultural sensitivity in their patient care. “Make this a place where people feel the presence of God. Be patient, especially with mothers who may not be educated. Let everyone feel welcome here,” he urged.
Partnership, not competition
Bishop Yitiereh appealed to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) for technical support and collaboration, stressing that the Church’s efforts are to complement—not compete with—government health services.
He also called on the Nanumba North Municipal Assembly to support the posting of additional staff by prioritising accommodation for healthcare workers.
Staff praise project as a “game changer”
The clinic’s Senior Nursing Officer and Manager, Mr Atampuba Victor Awinmora, hailed the facility as a turning point for Juasi and at least 17 neighbouring communities.
“This is a game changer. It will significantly improve maternal and child health outcomes in areas where access to care has been a long-standing challenge,” he said.
The new health block will eliminate the need for long journeys to Tamale, Yendi, or Bimbilla for essential services such as ultrasound diagnostics and neonatal care.
Government promises more rural health infrastructure
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Nanumba North, Mr Abdul Samed Hamza, praised the Catholic Church and its partners for what he described as “a show of God’s love” towards the people of Juasi.
He said the facility aligns with President Mahama’s broader healthcare agenda, which includes the construction of more Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds across the country.
“In Nanumba North alone, sod will soon be cut for the construction of two CHPS compounds—one at Tasongdo along the Bimbilla–Chamba stretch, and another at Lanja on the Bimbilla–Yendi road,” the MCE announced.
He assured the Catholic Church of continued collaboration in the areas of health and education and appealed for more support from development partners.
The St. Elizabeth Catholic Health Clinic currently offers outpatient, antenatal, family planning, child welfare, laboratory, and Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services.
The addition of the Maternal and Child Health Block marks a significant milestone in the delivery of rural healthcare in the Northern Region—especially for women and children who have long struggled with limited access to quality care.
