A report published by Word News on concerns raised by the people of Sirigu, a community in Kassena-Nankana West District, about poor healthcare services at the Martyrs of Uganda Health Centre has prompted the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocesan Health Authority to organise a durbar with the people of the community.
In July, 2023, Word News revealed that the Martyrs of Uganda Health Centre, a facility run by the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese, had spent more than Gh¢89,210 on a doctor while the same facility was struggling to get drugs and other consumables for patients.
The facility, which serves at least 9,000 people in Sirigu and some other communities in the district and parts of neighbouring Burkina Faso, does not have conducive wards for admission. For lack of wards, the verandas of the facility were converted into wards. The facility also does not have a theatre.
Other concerns expressed by the community members include lack of drugs as a result of which some people reportedly lost their relations and some had vowed not to patronise the facility anymore.
“If you are admitted into the facility and you are asked to buy any medication for treatment and you are unable to secure the medication, you are left to your own fate,” Alimatu Issah, a resident, had told Word News.
A woman complained her baby died as a result of inadequate supply of medicines. A couple also recalled losing a baby owing to delay at the facility. The husband said the midwives did not refer his wife early enough, resulting in the death of their baby at the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga.
Efforts to speak to the head of the Catholic Relief Service, Dr Joseph Ayinbila, at the time were unsuccessful.
The durbar, which was aimed at addressing the concerns of the community, was graced by the Paramount Chief of the area, Naba Roland Akwara Atogumdeya III, queen mothers and youth leaders. Top officials of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese including the Director of the Catholic Health Service Trust, Peter Akudugu Ayamba, were in attendance.
Speaking exclusively to Word News after the durbar, the Director of the Catholic Health Service Trust indicated that about 70% of the community’s concerns had been identified and addressed. These include the supply of enough drugs and upgrading the health centre’s laboratory with all necessary equipment.
Akudugu added that plans were far advanced to refurbish the health centre with beds and the furniture in to ensure quality health delivery.
“I did indicate that their concerns were genuine and their concerns had to do with quality of healthcare delivery and we have made significant efforts to address those. And as we talk, we can say that we have 70% drugs that were not there in place now. The laboratory that had challenges has been virtually addressed. “All machines in the laboratory are now working. We are looking forward to acquiring bigger machines for the laboratory but at this level, as a health centre, the basic equipment needed at the laboratory are available and they are working now,” he said.
The director also disclosed the diocese’s intention to get the facility a suitable theatre, a maternity ward and CCTV camera within the shortest time possible.
“Upgrading is a process and we are working to get the facility upgraded to a primary hospital in the next one year or so. So, the process has been initiated and we are hoping that all things being equal in a year’s time, the facility should be upgraded.
“That is the plan. There is a challenge on the mattress because of the pressure on them. The frequency of usage is too much. The number of beds at the health facility are few and I’m hoping that within now and next month we will fixe that with the furniture situation,” he stated.
The Paramount Chief of the Sirigu Traditional Area appealed to the authorities and the staff of the facility to work hard to restore the confidence of his people in the health centre and improve upon the poor health services delivery.
Source: mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Ayuureneeya