Upgrade Manyoro CHPS compound to health centre — Chief

The Chief of Manyoro Sakuniah, Felix Achana, has appealed to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to take the necessary steps to upgrade the Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound in Manyoro to provide the needed healthcare to the people.

“Most often, some basic medical tests cannot be done at the CHPS compound, compelling patients to travel to Sirigu or Navrongo to seek such services, despite the poor state of roads in the area,” he stated.

He indicated that due to the growing population in the town and its adjoining communities, it was important for the health facility to be upgraded to a health centre to deliver quality medical services to the people.

Commemoration

The chief was speaking on behalf of the Paramount Chief of the Manyoro Traditional Area, Pe Atudiwe Atudipaare Manchi III, during an event to commemorate this year’s Global Handwashing Day (GHD) in the community.

Eunice Tangwam, a public health nurse, demonstrating proper handwashing to the residents of Manyoro during the event

The event was organised by the GHS directorate in the Kassena Nankana Municipality, with support from WaterAid Ghana, a water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)-focused non-governmental organisation (NGO).

As part of the event, the residents were taken through the proper ways to wash their hands to tackle infections and diseases associated with bad handwashing practices.

The Manyoro Sakuniah chief urged all key stakeholders to take the necessary steps to upgrade the CHPS compound to bring relief to the residents while commending the health directorate for educating the community members on proper handwashing, as it would improve the health of the people.

Response

Responding to the concern of the chief, the acting Municipal Director, GHS, Cabral Vwawojei Bantu, said his outfit had gone through all the due processes to pave the way for the facility to be upgraded to serve the people better.

“What is left to be done is for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to visit the facility and thoroughly assess if it meets the criteria to be upgraded to a health centre status,” he said.

He commended Pe Manchi III for taking steps towards the construction of a 30-capacity detention room at the health facility so that patients can be admitted and provided with extensive care.

He indicated that proper handwashing was key to reducing infections and diseases, saying: “Non-adherence to proper handwashing is a behavioural activity that needs to be nipped in the bud.”

Further, he underscored the need for people to strictly practise what they had learnt in the house and other public places so that the burden of diseases can be drastically reduced in society.

Writer’s email: gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh