Japan boosts healthcare delivery in Keta Municipality

Japan boosts healthcare delivery in Keta Municipality

By Mohammed Awal

The government of Japan, under the Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) scheme has provided an amount of $121,914 for the construction of Community-Based Health Planning and Service (CHPS) compound for Agortoe CHPS zone in Keta Municipal Assemby in the Volta Region.

The Agortoe CHPS zone comprises of nine settlements in the catchment area, namely Agbatsivi, Kpordui, Hadota, Salo, Sokutime, Sodzi, Vorvornukope, Aflanto and Sukladzi.

The project consists of the construction of a clinic block, nurses’ quarters and procurement of medical equipment and furniture. And it was estimated to benefit not less than 3,500 inhabitants in the Agortoe CHPS zone.

The Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Mr. Naoto Nikai told the media at a signing ceremony for grant assistance between GGHSP and the Keta Municipal Assembly in Accra Tuesday that when completed the CHPS compound would bring basic health care service delivery to the door steps of the people in the area.

The inhabitants of the area commute several kilometers to other health stations just to seek health care, according to him.

The problem he said intensifies during the raining seasons when feeder roads were being rendered unmotorable for residents seeking medical care.

“Unfortunately, patients who are not able to commute to health facility face serious health implications which tend fatal”, the Ambassador lamented.

His government, he said, would do all it could to revert these phenomena, promising: “The government of Japan is more than willing to be able to extend its assistance to improve the health profile of the Agortoe community and its surroundings”.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), of the Keta Municipal Assembly, Sylvester Edah Tornyeavah congratulated the Japanese government for its gesture noting that the gesture would undoubtedly go a long way in easing pressure on the already stressed limited health outlet in the municipality.

“There is a remarkable deficit in health centers within the municipality. In juxtaposing with the total population, the number of recognized quality health centers is not woefully discouraging.

“The construction of the CHPS compound within the municipality is, therefore, a great opportunity for people within the community and beyond to have access to quality health care without having to traverse long distances,” he noted.