Wa East DCE Hands Over New CHPS Compound to Yaru Community

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Wa East District, Adamu Sayibu, has handed over a newly completed Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compound to the people of Yaru and surrounding communities, as part of government efforts to improve access to quality healthcare delivery.

Speaking at the handing-over ceremony, Mr. Sayibu said the facility was constructed to bring basic healthcare services closer to the people, in line with government policy. He noted that the government is committed to ensuring that no citizen has to travel long distances to access healthcare.

“We are here as a government to hand over a completed health facility that has been constructed. Our government has a policy of making sure that we bring healthcare to the doorstep of every community,” he stated. “We do not want a situation where people have to travel several kilometers to access healthcare.”

According to the DCE, the construction of the CHPS Compound in Yaru forms part of a broader strategy to ensure that basic healthcare facilities are available in communities across the district. He therefore urged the residents to take keen interest in the facility and see it as their own.

“The facility belongs to the community. You must own it and be part of its administration,” he emphasized.

Mr. Sayibu assured the community that the District Health Directorate would work with traditional authorities to incorporate residents into the management of the facility, enabling them to help resolve challenges that may arise.

He further encouraged the community to collaborate with district authorities whenever issues go beyond their capacity to resolve.

“If you cannot do it at the community level, make sure you invite us to support. We will be readily available,” he added.

Mr. Sayibu also appealed to the community to warmly welcome health workers who will be posted to the facility. He stressed the importance of peaceful co-existence to encourage nurses and other health personnel to remain in the community long-term.

“I wouldn’t want any nurse to come here and be asking for a transfer again. When they come, they should want to stay and stay forever,” he said.

On equipment and logistics, the DCE acknowledged that the facility may not yet have all the required equipment. He explained that while the contractor had fulfilled the terms of the contract, the Assembly would collaborate with the District Health Directorate to provide additional equipment needed to ensure effective service delivery.

The Wa East District Director of Health Services, Dr. Robert Ameyuri, assured the Yaru community that dedicated and hardworking health personnel would be posted to the facility to deliver quality healthcare. He noted that the new CHPS Compound is spacious enough to function as a health centre and that the necessary staff would be deployed to ensure its effective utilization.

Residents of Yaru, particularly women, expressed excitement over the new CHPS Compound and commended the government for bringing healthcare closer to the community. They noted that the facility will ease the burden of accessing maternal healthcare, as women can now deliver safely in Yaru without having to travel on the bumpy road to Naahaa.

Touching on other development needs, the Wa East DCE acknowledged that Yaru currently lacks a kindergarten block and announced that the district assembly is currently constructing one for the community.

New KG Block under constructing

He also mentioned concerns about the poor state of the road from Gudaayiri junction to Kpaanamuna, assuring residents that the Assembly would make efforts to improve the road network.