Kassena-nankana west: Mr Stephen AekeAkurugu, the Kassena-Nankana West District Chief Executive (DCE), has appealed to Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and philanthropists to assist in improving access to quality healthcare delivery in the District. Even though the District was adjudged the best in the Region at the 2024 annual health performance review meeting, he noted that with the support of NGOs, healthcare delivery in the area would massively improve.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Akurugu made the appeal during his first sessional address at a well-attended ordinary meeting of the Assembly. The meeting brought together Assembly members, heads of departments, development partners, and the media. He commended some NGOs, including Engage Now Africa, Children Believe, and Moving Health, for their support and contributions to healthcare delivery in the area.
'While commending our development partners for the good work done to support healthcare delivery in the District, we are equally asking for more support from benevolent groups and individuals in whatever kind to improve access to healthcare delivery in the District,' he stated.
He disclosed that 52 Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) zones were earmarked in the District, but only 30 out of the number were situated in permanent structures. The rest were inadequately housed under trees or temporary structures. 'Transportation continues to be a critical challenge for the District Health Directorate. Currently, the Directorate has only one functional vehicle and insufficient motorbikes to address the health needs of remote communities within the District,' he added.
The DCE, a nurse by profession, noted that despite the constraints, the District Health Management Team (DHMT) performed extremely well. He indicated that the Health Directorate was constructing a paediatric ward at the Kassena-Nankana East Health Centre with its Internally Generated Funds. Mr. Akurugu further disclosed that the project was expected to be completed and handed over to the community by the end of August 2025, adding that management took the initiative to put up office accommodation to solve its accommodation challenge.
'When all these projects are successfully completed, it will boost healthcare delivery in the District,' the DCE concluded.
