A fully furnished KIA Green Light Health Center consisting a number of consulting rooms, maternity with labor wards, a laboratory, dispensary, storerooms and other equipment ,and a Mobile clinic Van have been handed over to Ghana Health Service and Akyem Saaman Community in Fanteakwa South District in Eastern region of Ghana by Kia Motors and World Vision.
The facility and accompanying Mobile clinic van provided under the KIA Greenlight Project is to improve access and quality of health care services, reduce the impact of vaccine-preventable diseases, malnutrition among children under five years, maternal health services, HIV / malaria diagnosis, vaccination and emergency treatment.
The health facility which has been operationalized for some years now is expected to be upgraded to a clinic status .
Already, the facility is contributing to reduction of maternal and child mortality and morbidity ,and improving access to quality healthcare services for over 58,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries in Saaman, Abompe ,Dwenase ,Gyanpomani, Msuapemso,Hemang ,Juaso and Bunkame communities under Osino Sub-district.
The project makes Ghana 12th base where Kia’s GLP has finalized the local transfer of the operation of its project.
The Kia Green Light Project funded by Kia Motors focuses on saving the wellbeing and the economy of poor areas by providing a foundation for self-reliance as well as material support for the underprivileged.
Transferring the operations of the Health center which started in 2018 ,Head of KIA SM team Eunjoo Lee said the facility has become a seed for sustainable growth and catalyst for positive change towards the future.
A speech by Director General of Ghana Health Service (GHS), delivered by Dr.Banabas Kwame Yeboah lauded the collaborative initiative stating it will significantly increase access and prevent avoidable deaths.
He assured GHS will augment logistics needed in the facility.
Joshua Baidoo , Integrated Programmes Director World Vision said the Health center project has been attached with poultry farm project with initial birds 2000 birds to shore up internally generated fund of the health center ,create jobs and increase nutritional needs of the people.
He said the total cost of the two projects were $1,090,000 which $8,333 equivalent to Ghc100,000 contributed by Kibi Gold Fields.
The District Chief Executive for Fanteakwa South Hon. Ernest Ofosu said the district has no Hospital therefore access to healthcare was a challenge to the people leading to incidence of maternal deaths however with the provision of the Kia greenlight Health Center ,and government efforts in building and equipping CHPs compounds in the district the mortality and morbidity have significantly reduced.
Meanwhile the community and its partners are expanding accomodation facility for the staff of the health center.
Source :Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
