The Old Agou Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compound, the only major health facility serving sixteen communities in Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region, is facing challenges due to inadequate infrastructure and equipment, which is negatively affecting the delivery of quality healthcare.
The high demand for the facilities and services of the CHPS clinic has put stress on the only one room and two delivery beds serving as both maternity units for females and males ward, which poses risks and affects the privacy of women in labour.
Management is therefore calling on the government and benevolent organizations to provide the necessary support to overcome the challenges faced by the facility.
During a visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA), it was observed that the CHPS compound urgently needs more delivery and patient beds, modern laboratory equipment, and accommodation for medical and ancillary staff who travel long distances to work there.
The uncompleted accommodation block started by the Member of Parliament for the Nkwanta South Constituency, Mr Geoffrey Kini was also sighted during the visit, but works had stalled.
The Old Agou CHPS compound depends on a locally made motor-king tricycle as an ambulance for transferring critical cases.
Nana Regent Okumesi, the Chief of Old Agou community, highlighted that the population of the 16 communities had over-stretched the capacity of the clinic, and there is a need for the facility to be expanded.
He called on the government, non-governmental organizations, and other benevolent institutions to come to support the upgrade of the facility to serve the current needs.
Mr Godfred Lettu, a nurse at the clinic, also explained that home delivery was on the rise in the catchment area due to the lack of a standard maternity facility and other essential needs for addressing the healthcare needs of the people.
Some residents of the communities appealed to the government and the Ministry of Health to urgently construct a maternity unit to improve healthcare delivery in the area.
