The Bui Power Authority (BPA), managers of the Bui Dam in the Banda District of the Bono Region has presented laboratory equipment worth GHC15,000 to the Bongase Health Center to improve on healthcare delivery in the dam’s catchment communities.
The equipment comprising pregnancy and malaria test kits, microwave, refrigerator, thermometers and others would be used to stock a laboratory center constructed by the people of Bongase to make it functional.
Speaking at a short ceremony at Bongase, Mr Salifu Wumbilla, the Director, General Services Department of the BPA, said improving the health and well-being of people around the dam was a priority. The gesture was based on a request by the Bongase community requested for the equipment.
He explained the BPA and the Banda District Health Directorate undertook health assessment impact to identify the immediate health needs of the communities in 2015, and since then the Authority has been providing support to address the health needs of the people.
Mr Wumbilla said Mr Fred Oware, the Chief Executive Officer of the BPA would inspect the health center and ensure the facility was furnished with required medical devices and equipment to position it well to provide quality healthcare delivery to the people.
He assured Authority’s commitment to help improve on the livelihoods of the people who were directly or indirectly affected by the 400 megawatts dam.
Receiving the donation, the Banda District Director of Health Services, Simon Adams, thanked the BPA for its continuous support in making life better for the people, saying with the equipment, the directorate would also ensure that a laboratory technician is posted to serve the community as soon as possible.
He indicated the directorate had no permanent offices since 2012, and appealed to the BPA to collaborate with the District Assembly to construct permanent offices for the directorate.
The MP for Banda Constituency, Ahmed Ibrahim, highlighted on the Coronavirus pandemic and advised the people to comply with the social and physical distancing protocols to protect themselves and their immediate families.
He said he was working hard to ensure that the Bongase health center was upgraded to a poly clinic. He also appealed to the BPA to supply the facility with modern medical devices and equipment.
The District Chief Executive of Banda, Mary Konneh, noted because the community lacked public toilet, open defecation was becoming worrying, and assured government would soon construct a public toilet and community center for the people.
By Larry Paa Kwesi Moses | 3news.com