About 3,000 residents from seven communities, including Garkuon in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba district of the Savannah Region, have received a new CHIPS compound facility to address antenatal and child health cases.

The beneficiaries who have lived in these communities have struggled for decades to access primary healthcare and had to commute several kilometres to Tuna and Sawla to access these basic but essential healthcare services.

This situation was made even more difficult by the poor state of the road connecting the community to Kalba, a relatively distant community in the district.

But in response to the situation, HiChale, a Kalba-based non-governmental organisation focused on community development, has intervened with a solar-powered standard CHIPS compound situated at Garkuo.

The Managing Director of HiChale, Emmanuel Dery Kuusani, said his outfit received the news about the need for a health facility, and upon brief research and in consultation with some stakeholders in the area, HiChale had to intervene with the project.

"Health is our survival, and our survival depends on access to quality health, and so, with this facility, which has officially been handed over to the Ghana Health Service today, it will address the basic health needs of the people, especially women and children." Mr Emmanuel Dery Kuusani.

According to the Managing Director, even though the official handing over had to be postponed due to some unforeseen security challenges in the district, it has been in use and will serve its desired purpose for the people in the district.

At the cost of GH₵1 million, the facility comes with modern beds, maternal healthcare equipment, a standby generator, and a mechanised water system.

"We considered the need for health workers and so, we added two residential units accmmodation for the health workers, solar power installation, a mechanised borehole for the facility, essential medical equipment, and a branded Yamaha motorbike to support outreach services and with these, they will have a way to provide the needed basic service for maternal and child health needs in the targeted communities" Mr Kuusani.

He commended Aktionskreis Pater Hagen and Rüt’n’Rock Association—as well as their donor, Schmitz Stiftung- for their partnership and contribution.

On her part, the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District Director of Health, Madam Getrude Yentumi, commended HiChale for its outstanding commitment to improving healthcare delivery in the district.

She said the need for such a facility for the zone has been on the drawing without funds,

"But the construction of the Garkuon CHPS compound today by HiChale has come. With much relief to the people and us as a whole. We are grateful for the facility and promised to put it to good use."

She further mentioned the renovation of the Saru CHPS compound by HiChale, a gesture she said is the first of its kind in the enclave.

She said the CHPS concept is central to Ghana’s primary healthcare system, bringing services such as maternal and child healthcare, disease prevention, health education, and emergency care closer to the people.

"With this new facility, the residents of Garkuon will no longer need to travel long distances for basic healthcare. Pregnant women will have access to safe antenatal services, children will receive timely immunisations, and families will benefit from preventive healthcare education within their community." Madam Gertrude Yentume.

She appealed to the beneficiaries to take responsibility for maintaining and protecting the facility, while supporting the health workers to ensure its sustainability.

The Garkuonwura, Seidu Adams, expressed appreciation to the organisation for the initiative, describing it as a significant milestone in healthcare delivery in the area.