Dakyie residents trade grains to buy medicine for CHPS Compound

Residents of Dakyie near Daffiama in the Daffiama Bussie Issa district have taken their health into their own hands.

Due to the lack of essential drugs at the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound, the residents contribute grains and sell them to buy medicines for the facility.

The residents made this revelation during the commissioning of a newly renovated CHPS compound by the EU Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly and the Minister of Roads and Highways, Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye.

Madam Grace Bon-ibie, a resident speaking to Info Radio, mentioned that the CHPS compound often lacks medication. As a way of helping themselves, they decided to contribute grains, sell them, and buy medicine for the facility.

"There are no drugs in the CHPS compound. We also contributed to buying drugs so that when we visit the facility, we can get drugs from the nurses."

She explained that those who contributed to buying the drugs they do not have to pay for drugs when they visit the CHPS compound. But, those who did not contribute are charged by the facility when they are there for healthcare.

“We have contributed twice, and if you haven't contributed, you will need to pay for the medication when you visit the facility,” she explained.

Mr. Bayor Martin, a resident, mentioned that there were no medicines available at the CHPS compound. This led to the women in the community pooling their resources to sell grains and buy medicine for the facility. He explained that the community started this initiative as a way of helping themselves this year.

"The women in the community contributed maize and rice, sold them, and used the proceeds to purchase medicine for the CHPS compound, as there was no medicine in the facility. The grains were stored in my house, and the women later came and picked them up to sell."