The Lordina Foundation has renovated and equipped the Anyima Health Centre in the Kintampo South District of the Bono East Region to improve maternal and child healthcare delivery in the area.

Mrs Lordina Dramani Mahama, Founder and President of the Lordina Foundation, commissioned and handed over the facility to the community.

The project brings to six the number of health facilities constructed or renovated by the Foundation across the country.

The others include four new maternity and children’s wards at Bole in the Savannah Region, Nkoranza South and Bodom in the Nkoranza North Municipality in the Bono East Region, and Asukawkaw in the Oti Region.

The Foundation also renovated and expanded the Adabraka Health Centre at Hohoe Zongo in the Volta Region and provided it with essential medical equipment.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Mrs Mahama expressed gratitude to Nana Saa Gyamfuaa II, Queenmother of Anyima, for her advocacy and commitment, which led to the renovation of the facility.

Mrs Mahama said the commissioning held personal significance for her because of her connection to the area. She explained that Jema-Ampoma, a nearby community, was the hometown of her late mother, Abena Gyamfua.

Access to quality healthcare, particularly maternal and child health services, remains a priority for the Foundation’s interventions.

Ghana’s maternal mortality rate is estimated at nearly 300 deaths per 100,000 live births, while infant mortality stands at about 32 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Mrs Mahama said behind these statistics were mothers, daughters and children whose lives could be saved through timely access to quality healthcare facilities and skilled birth attendants.

She noted that many of the deaths were preventable but occurred because expectant mothers often travelled long distances to seek maternal care, or because some health facilities lacked essential equipment or had deteriorated over time.

The renovated Anyima Health Centre now provides a functional primary healthcare facility expected to serve more than 3,000 residents of the community and neighbouring towns including Amoma, Apesika and Jema.

The facility comprises an Out-Patient Department, consulting room, examination room, delivery room, labour ward, children’s ward and separate male and female wards.

Additional units include an adolescent centre, laboratory, dispensary, emergency room and offices for nurses and midwives.

The centre has also been equipped with essential medical equipment to enhance healthcare delivery.

These include hospital beds and mattresses, examination beds, an electric obstetric bed, an infant incubator, infant phototherapy unit, ultrasound system, digital electrocardiogram machine, oxygen equipment, delivery sets, patient monitoring devices and neonatal care equipment.

The facility is expected to reduce the burden on pregnant women and sick residents who previously travelled long distances to access healthcare services.

Newborns in the community will also have access to immediate professional medical care.

President John Dramani Mahama is expected to launch the Primary Health Care Programme, which will provide free healthcare services at facilities such as the Anyima Health Centre.

The programme aims to increase healthcare utilisation, encourage early disease detection, reduce health expenditure for families and promote a healthier and more productive population.

Mrs Mahama urged health workers assigned to the centre to treat patients with dignity and compassion.

She also encouraged residents of Anyima to take ownership of the facility, maintain it properly and make full use of its services.

She appealed to chiefs and community leaders to help safeguard the facility so it could continue to meet the healthcare needs of residents for years to come.

Mrs Mahama expressed appreciation to donor partners of the Lordina Foundation for their support and thanked the Foundation’s management and staff for their dedication.

Obrempong Ameyaw Amponsem II, Chief of the Anyima Traditional Area, thanked Mrs Mahama and the Lordina Foundation for the gesture.

He noted that the Kintampo South District had witnessed development since President John Dramani Mahama assumed office.

Nana Saa Gyamfuaa II, Queenmother of Anyima, presented a citation to Mrs Mahama in recognition of her commitment to promoting women’s empowerment, maternal and child health, and the welfare of vulnerable groups.