A GNA Special Report by Benjamin Akoto
Banda-Ahenkro, (Bono), Nov. 10, GNA – Delivering quality healthcare in rural regions is not just about infrastructure, but also about justice and equity, which are essential for advancing the country's efforts toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Banda-Ahenkro Health Center
Located in the middle of an expanding community, the Banda-Ahenkro Health Center in the Banda District of the Bono Region serves as a crucial support system for thousands of locals.
Nevertheless, as the population increases in the region, the facility's inability to adequately address the health requirements of the residents becomes clearly evident.
Certainly, the Banda-Ahenkro needs a fully developed district hospital to provide thorough and up-to-date medical services to its residents.
History
Constructed in 2005 for a smaller community back then, multiple initiatives have been undertaken to transform the facility into a polyclinic to better address the essential health requirements of the population.
Due to the efforts of the former Banda District Chief Executive, Madam Mary Konneh, who led the campaign to upgrade the facility to a Polyclinic or a District Hospital.
However, the upgrade process has been inconsistent, with concrete plans being developed in 2017 for expanding the facility to address urgent health requirements. Regrettably, these plans were never carried out.
Stretched beyond limits
Initially created to cater to a small community with fundamental outpatient treatments, the Banda Health Center is now struggling to handle numerous patients coming from nearby villages for medical assistance.
Inadequate diagnostic equipment, absence of up-to-date medical technology, and a scarcity of hospital beds are currently hindering the facility's ability to produce effective health results. This has prevented the population from receiving necessary medical care.
In a time of sophisticated digital diagnostics, telemedicine, and treatment procedures, the current state of the Banda Health Center is not ideal.
Population Growth and Urbanisation
Banda has transformed from a tranquil rural area into a lively center of economic and social interaction, marked by growing commerce and expanding residential areas.
However, the healthcare infrastructure is behind, not keeping up with population growth, and medical resources.
This requires the enhancement of the facility at District Hospital or Polyclinic to address the increasing healthcare needs of the expanding population.
The enhancement will create opportunities for hiring expert medical staff, setting up advanced machinery, and increasing services such as operations, imaging, and prenatal care.
Travel for healthcare
For numerous locals, obtaining medical care involves journeying to large towns such as Nsawkaw, Wenchi, and Sunyani.
In addition to the financial consequences, these trips can last for many hours and pose dangers, particularly for pregnant women and individuals with severe medical conditions.
Frequently, they are compelled to face stressful and perilous travels, with these journeys having a greater impact on the elderly, children, and those from low-income households.
This increases health disparities and undermines confidence in the local healthcare system.
Challenges
Senior Physician Assistant Mr. Jonathan Owusu from the Banda Health Center has urged immediate improvements to the facility to address the increasing number of patients seeking medical care.
He stated, "Even though the health center is supposed to operate like a district hospital, the absence of necessary equipment significantly limits our activities," adding that laboratory tests could not be carried out.
Mr. Owusu voiced worries regarding inadequate lighting setups with old electrical wiring, mentioning that the building almost experienced a fire because of the outdated wiring systems.
Nevertheless, he praised the government for equipping the facility with an ultrasound machine and an oxygen supply system.
Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Banda Constituency, expressed that it was regrettable the district did not fall within the scope of the Agenda 111 District Hospital initiative from the previous government.
When they pledged us a district hospital, I began building 24 housing units for nurses and security staff.
However, the health accountant at the time misappropriated GH₵260,000 designated for the project and later returned GH₵40,000," Mr. Ibrahim claimed, vowing to assist in upgrading the facility to a district hospital within the next three years.
Economic and social impact
In reality, the advantages of transforming the Banda Health Centre into a district hospital go beyond medical services, generating employment prospects and drawing in investments to boost regional economic expansion and progress.
Better health results will therefore contribute to a more efficient workforce, lower levels of poverty, and improve the standard of living for individuals.
Furthermore, the upgrade demonstrates a dedication to fairness, as rural and semi-urban areas frequently face insufficient investment in public services.
Therefore, upgrading the Banda Health Center will facilitate easier access to high-quality healthcare services and enhance the well-being of the community.
Sustainable Development Goals
The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG number three) urges nations to foster the health and well-being of every individual.
In particular, target 3.8 focuses on ensuring universal health coverage that provides financial risk protection, access to high-quality essential healthcare services, and availability of safe, effective, and cost-efficient essential medicines and vaccines for everyone.
Additional objectives of the global goal aim to provide access to vital health services.
With global initiatives striving to foster healthy living by 2030, the critical question persists: "Will the residents of Banda receive the appropriate standard of medical care?"
Way Forward
Certainly, the upgrade of the Banda Health Centre to a district hospital is not a luxury, but a vital step and a chance to address long-standing underinvestment, creating a stronger and more adaptable healthcare system that serves the current population effectively.
Through determination, local backing, and focused funding, the plan for the improvement can become a tangible outcome.
The residents of Banda are entitled to receive prompt and high-quality medical care, in line with the saying "Our health is our wealth."
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Linda Asante Agyei