Afram Plains CHPS compounds in poor state
The Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds are important health intervention facilities, not only in the rural areas, but also in the urban centres.
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The CHPS compounds offer a range of primary healthcare services such as the treatment of malaria, respiratory tract infections, general body pains and dressing of wounds. They also render antenatal care services, counselling, family planning services, and child welfare clinics.
In the Kwahu Afram Plains North District in the Eastern Region are 27 CHPS compounds dotted across it.
Permanent structures
Unfortunately, out of the existing 27 CHPS Compounds, only eight of them operate in permanent structures, as the rest are located in rented houses, a situation the district health directorate described as a challenge to having healthcare on the doorstep of the people.
In an interview, the District Director of Health Services, Mr Robert Kwaku Bio, stated that some of the structures in which the CHPS operated were in deplorable states.
The CHPS Co-ordinator of the district, Mr Elisha Ankomah Bruce, who conducted the Daily Graphic round some of the compounds, said since the compounds were serving a good purpose, they must be resourced to deliver even better services.
State of CHPS compounds
During the tour, it became obvious that apart from the lack of enough space for patients, some of the structures were not conducive for healthcare delivery.
The CHPS compound at the Abutanso, for instance, operates from a two-room house and a corridor with parts of the roof ripped off, leaving a gaping space which gives way to sun rays, and leakages anytime it rains.
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Only one room has a ceiling, and with that the ceiling even hangs dangerously and could drop anytime, while the heat in the other room and on the corridor was unbearable during the day.
The walls and the ceiling of the rooms had been infested with termites.
The story was not too different in other compounds visited. For instance, even though at the Kwaekese CHPS Compound a COCOBOD-sponsored shed was being used and that looked a little convenient, yet it had its own challenges.
The Assistant in charge of the compound, Ms Rosemary Sackey, told the Daily Graphic that most of the time, there was not enough space to accommodate patients.
At the Atakora CHPS Compound, the direct heat emanating from the roofing sheets made the room unfriendly to the patients, as they were seen sweating profusely.
The Assistant Officer in charge of that compound, Ms Gifty Mawuena Vorsah, said there were no shelves to arrange folders on.
The Asikasu CHPS Compound, which looked the best among all the compounds visited, had its own challenges. For instance, access to the compound was not patient-friendly, as they had to cross a gutter and climb up a hill to be able to get to the facility.
Ms Victoria Asare, the nurse in charge of the compound, told the Daily Graphic that apart from being a midwife who renders healthcare services at the compound, she also did home delivery, where she was invited to deliver expectant mothers, while other staff members also embarked on outreach programme.
Appeal
The district director of medical service, therefore, appealed to the district assembly and the communities to assist in finding permanent and more conducive accommodation for the compounds to operate from.
Mr Bio said the GHS in the district was working hard under trying conditions to provide the needed health care for the people and it was left to the assembly and various communities where the compounds were located to contribute their quota.