Eric Agboka, the Nkwanta North District Health Director, has called for an immediate upgrading of the Sibi Central CHPS Compound into a fully-fledged health centre to address growing healthcare challenges in the area.

The appeal comes as the facility struggles to serve the over 8,000 residents with limited infrastructure and resources raising concerns about access to quality healthcare.

Speaking at the District’s Annual Performance Review in Sibi, Mr Agboka warned that increasing population and rising demand for services are putting immense pressure on the facility, making expansion unavoidable.

He stressed that upgrading the CHPS compound would improve case management, strengthen maternal and child health services, and reduce unnecessary referrals to distant health facilities.

Mr Agboka further noted that despite being the second most populous district in the Oti Region, Nkwanta North has only two health centres located at Damanko and Kpassa, leaving many communities underserved.

He called on chiefs, stakeholders and community members to support efforts to transform the facility, emphasising that collective action is key to improving healthcare delivery.

Backing the appeal, the nurse in charge, Mr Justice Believe Adjie, described the workload as overwhelming, citing high patient numbers and limited resources.

He said a well-equipped health centre would ease pressure on staff and significantly enhance service delivery for the people of Sibi and surrounding communities.