Residents of Nkwakwanua in the Sekyere East District now have reason to hope for better healthcare after a new health centre was officially opened, replacing an old facility that had long struggled with poor infrastructure, security concerns, and unreliable services.
The new centre, supported by the Government of Japan under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, is designed to bring essential medical services closer to the community, particularly maternal and child healthcare, outpatient services, and preventive care.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, District Chief Executive Ibrahim Adams described the development as a milestone for the district.
“We have gathered here not simply to commission a building, but to celebrate what partnership, determination, and a shared vision can achieve,” he said.
“This facility will significantly reduce the burden on residents who previously had to travel long distances for medical attention. It will help reduce preventable illnesses, support maternal and child healthcare, and enhance public health education.”
The project includes the construction of a staff accommodation, and a mechanized borehole to ensure a reliable water supply. While initial construction stalled due to financial constraints, the District Assembly, through the District Assemblies Common Fund and support from central government, ensured the project’s completion.
Japan’s Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Hiroshi Yoshimoto, said the facility represents a tangible example of international cooperation benefiting local communities.
“This health centre will provide maternal and child care, outpatient services, preventive care, and health education. It will reduce the burden on distant hospitals and, most importantly, save lives,” he said, while emphasizing that the facility is being opened for use even as some final works are still ongoing.
“Today is not necessarily the final commissioning ceremony, but the official opening of the facility for use by the people of Nkwakwanua,” the Ambassador added, urging stakeholders to ensure full completion by the end of the fiscal year.
The District Director of Health, Dr Justice Ofori-Amoah, highlighted the critical role of key stakeholders, including the District Assembly and the Member of Parliament, in making the project a reality.
“We will ensure that this facility serves the purpose for which it was established,” he said, appealing to residents to protect the facility and prevent encroachment on its land.
A facility born from necessity
The commissioning of the new health centre comes against the backdrop of persistent challenges at the old facility, which has been in use since 2015.
The physician assistant, Oware Wisdom, who managed the previous centre, described daily struggles that hampered healthcare delivery.
“We don’t have a secondary source of power. When there is an outage, we rely on torchlights. If the outage lasts beyond 24 hours and our devices run down, we are unable to attend to patients at night,” he said.
He also described the challenges posed by the facility’s location on sloping land, which has been prone to erosion.
“There was a time I had to refer a patient to a district hospital. The ambulance struggled to access the facility because erosion had affected the surroundings,” Oware said.
The building itself was poorly ventilated and not adequately sealed, making conditions unbearable during both heat and rain.
“When the sun is out, the place becomes very hot like an oven. When it rains, the roof leaks to the extent that you cannot stand inside,” he said.
Security issues compounded the challenges, as the centre was exposed to both animal and human intrusion.
“We share the space with dogs, sheep, and goats. In the morning, you find droppings all over. There are also intruders who come in at night,” he said, noting that old wooden windows left the facility vulnerable to theft.
According to Oware, these conditions affected the facility’s ability to function effectively.
“There are essential resources we need to operate efficiently, but because of the state of the facility, it is difficult for the Directorate to provide them,” he said.
Having worked at the old facility since September 2017, Oware said the new health centre offers hope for a better working environment and improved care for patients.
“The commissioning of this new facility is about the lives it will save, the suffering it will reduce, and the hope it brings to our community,” he said.
With the opening of the new Nkwakwanua Health Centre, residents can now look forward to a facility capable of delivering quality healthcare services while addressing the longstanding challenges that have hindered access and care for years.
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