Community leaders in the Akim Ntronang community in the Birim North district assembly of the Eastern Region are calling on the government to as a matter of urgency, provide some essential equipment and logistics to the St. Michael clinic and maternity centre in order to enable the facility to work efficiently.
Speaking to our news team on a visit to the community, Okyeame Kojo Anokye who spoke on behalf of the chiefs indicated that, the St. Michael clinic and maternity centre, which was established in 1970 is currently second to the Abirim government hospital but lacks several critical logistics such as a scanner equipment to help improve maternal healthcare delivery in the facility. Again he noted that, there is not enough medicines at the dispensary to serve patients.
Okyeame Anokye further stated the need for government to urgently construct a nurses quarters to solve an accommodation problem that is currently confronting health workers in the clinic.
“as I told you before, the clinic needs a scanning machine urgently to enhance maternal healthcare delivery in here. Again, there is currently a shortage of drugs at the dispensary and that is a very great worry to us chiefs and opinion leaders because if that is it then how can healthcare in general be successful. One thing that we also want government of H.E. Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo to come to our aid with, is a nurses quarters to accommodate our nurses because most of them live very far from the facility and so in time of emergencies, they are unable to report swiftly to assist. We also know of an unfortunate incident that happened to one nurse in Kumasi, where some bad people attacked her and murdered her on her way. We don’t want that to happen to our people so government should as soon as possible help construct the quarters to house our nurses” he said.
On our visit to the facility, it was observed that the walling around the maternity block was weak and had several deep cracks through it and could soon fall.
Sister Gregorian Yeboah, a supervisor at the clinic reiterated an urgent need for a scanner in order to improve maternal healthcare at the centre, adding that the only one they had, has not been functioning for a long time.
“The absence of a scanner is a challenge to us now. Our clients also have to pick taxis’ to Abirim on referrals because we don’t have a vehicle here. One very pressing need is for government to help build a nurses quarters to accommodate our workers, most of whom reside in other communities far from the clinic, thereby creating fear for them in times of odd times emergency situations. We are also unable to procure water as frequent as we should and in the quantities we need because our financial status is a problem” she said.
She therefore pleaded with authorities of the NHIA to ensure swift payment of their claims.
Assembly member for the Ntronang Dadease electoral area, Puni Nyarko Samuel also indicated that, the St. Michael clinic is second to the Abirim government hospital, serving many other neighbouring communities and therefore the government should urgently come to their aid and provide the needed logistics to enable the facility provide efficient services to the community.
Nana Kwasi Duah, the Abakomahene of Ntronang on his part pleaded with government to provide an ambulance to the clinic to help in transporting patients in cases of referrals. He also called on government to help upgrade the schools in his community and improve the welfare of teachers in the area because their efforts are satisfactory.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to government to improve the welfare of teachers in our community because they are doing very well. Our children do very well in their external exams because of the efforts of the teachers here. Let me also thank my chief, Nana Asiedu Akora for his outstanding leadership to the people of the Ntronang” he said.