The Wa West District Hospital has been crowned the best peer-reviewed district hospital in the region, a triumphant but bittersweet victory for a facility currently battling critical staff shortages, stalled infrastructure, and a broken operating theatre table.

The reality of rural healthcare delivery was laid bare during the 2025 Wa West District Annual Health Performance Review in Wechiau by the Wa West district director of health services, Cecilia Kakariba.

Taking the podium first, District Health Director Madam Cecilia Kakariba painted a grim picture of the operational crisis facing her staff. She revealed that the main district hospital in Wechiau is surviving on just five midwives to handle all shifts.

The infrastructure deficit is equally crippling. Madam Kakariba reported that out of 42 completed CHPS compounds across the district, 21 operate without electricity, and 24 lack basic vaccine fridges. Most alarming is that the hospital's primary operating theatre table is broken down, requiring risky manual adjustments during life-saving surgeries.

Despite these hurdles, she noted a localised success, with skilled birth deliveries improving to over 61%. However, the district tragically recorded one maternal death in 2025, breaking a previous zero-mortality record in 2024.

Taking the stage following the Health Director's sobering presentation, the Wa West District Chief Executive, Richard Wullo, delivered a sharp political response to the crisis, bluntly declaring that "every maternal death is a failure of our system".

To combat these system failures and address the gaps highlighted by Madam Kakariba, the DCE announced aggressive interventions by the District Assembly. Utilising the District Assembly Common Fund and the Social Cohesion Program (SOCO), the Assembly is pushing to complete long-stalled Ministry of Health and Northern Development Authority projects to bypass bureaucratic bottlenecks. This includes rescuing abandoned health centres in Eggu, Vieri, and Gurumu.

The systemic challenges were further validated during an independent peer assessment by a Wa East representative, which brought the crippling financial strain on the district to the forefront. The assessment highlighted that significant Internally Generated Funds (IGF) are locked up due to high National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) claim rejections, starving the facilities of operational cash.

Responding to the outcry from both the district directorate and the peer assessors, Prosper Mwinyele, the Regional Deputy Director of Administration representing the regional health director, offered immediate regional interventions. He assured the district that the locked October NHIS claims—stemming from a recent digital systems transition—will be fully paid.

To ease the crushing burden on the five midwives and existing staff, Mwinyele announced the impending deployment of a second medical doctor to the Wa West District Hospital. Additionally, he issued a strict regional mandate requiring all hospitals to install CCTV cameras by the end of March to enhance facility security.

Despite scoring over 90% and being named the best peer-reviewed district hospital in the region, the true backbone of Wa West's healthcare system remains its resilient frontline workers.

In conclusion to the review, several staff members were honoured for delivering award-winning care within a failing system. Mr. Abdul Fatau C. C. Omar, the lone male Community Health Officer stationed at the Kuzie CHPS compound, was awarded "Community Health Officer of the Year" for his outstanding impact on maternal and child health indicators. Furthermore, the Poyentanga Health Centre was recognised for its timely data reporting.

In a stark reflection of the district's realities, the prizes awarded alongside the citations included practical, essential supplies such as liquid soap, disposable gloves, and gauze, underscoring the daily struggles of rural service delivery.

Before the gathering adjourned, Madam Kakariba issued one final, urgent public warning regarding a rising regional threat of meningitis, pleading with rural communities to report even the slightest symptoms to the nearest health facility immediately.