The Japanese government has awarded grants of $249,933 to two district assemblies to construct Community Health Planning Services (CHPS) compounds.
Part of the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) will support the construction of the CHPS compound in Nanumba South District Assembly in the Northern Region and the Bosome Freho District Assembly in the Ashanti Region.
The contract, signed at the Japanese Embassy in Accra yesterday, would see the Nanumba South District Assembly receive $122,673, while Bosome Freho District Assembly would receive $127,260 for the execution of the projects.
Speaking at the grant contract signing ceremony, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, said the institution of GGHSP was a demonstration of the strong will by the Japanese government in solving human security challenges.
He indicated that the GGHSP since its inception had supported over 350 grassroots projects in the country, focusing on health, education, agriculture, water, sanitation, among others.
Mr Yoshimoto stated that the projects would provide the much-needed healthcare services to communities in Zonyani in Northern Region, and Apewu in Ashanti Region, which had been facing significant health challenges.
“The inhabitants of Zonyani, an overseas community located across the Daka river, have been deprived of basic social amenities such as healthcare, sanitation, potable water and education.
Pregnant women and other vulnerable groups in the community either have to resort to self-medication or travel long distances to access adequate healthcare.
“Apewu, a community which sits on the boundary of Lake Bosomtwe, lacks a functioning health facility to cater for the health needs of the people in the community and the surrounding towns.
“People either hike for about seven kilometres (km) through the hills or travel 15km by canoe across the lake Bosomtwe to access healthcare services.
This poses a high health risk, especially to the most vulnerable people in the society, which include the aged, pregnant women and children.
The location of the community makes it very prone to malaria and skin related infections,” Mr Yoshimoto said.
Appreciation
For their part, the District Chief Executives (DCEs) of the Nanumba South and Bosome Freho, expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for the support in addressing the health infrastructure needs of residents in the two communities.
The DCE of Nanumba South, Abdul Rashid Musah, said currently the enrolled community health nurse and midwife operated from a makeshift structure in Zonyani, a community, and its surroundings that are home to over 5,000 people.
The DCE of Bosome Freho, Charles Appiah-Kubi, said currently residents in Apewu make use of woods (old wooden doors, slabs, etc) to carry people either on foot to the nearest health facility or across lake Bosomtwe to the other side of the lake to access healthcare.
Mr Appiah-Kubi indicated that the intervention of the Japanese Embassy was going to change the health narrative within the enclave.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh