Health officials at the Beposo CHPS Compound are issuing a dire appeal for the facility’s renovation and expansion into a health center to improve healthcare delivery to residents.
The driving force behind this urgent call is the community’s rapidly expanding population, which has resulted in an unprecedented surge in outpatient cases and pushed the CHPS compound‘s limited resources to the breaking point.
The facility, established in 2016 to provide basic antenatal care and first aid to a small patient base, has undergone significant expansion and now caters to a substantial population from surrounding areas, including Komenda Edina Eguafo, Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, and Wassa East, with a notable influx on Fridays driven by local economic activities in the area.
Midwifery Officer, Elizabeth Koomson, expressed disappointment with the facility’s condition, citing inadequate space and insufficient infrastructure that hinder the provision of high-quality healthcare delivery services.
“The facility is not equipped to handle the increasing number of cases, and we also struggle with regular water supply due to the ongoing water crisis in the community,” she said.
She further revealed that the CHPS compound lacks sufficient beds, adding, “As a matter of fact, we don’t even have separate wards. There is only one room designated as a ward, and it is used by both male and female patients.”
In addition to the scarcity of medical resources, the facility’s accessibility is further compromised by the deplorable state of the access road, which becomes virtually impassable during the rainy season.
“The staircase to the facility is also a major challenge for pregnant women. They struggle to climb it to receive healthcare services,” Koomson added.
Furthermore, the facility’s inability to provide staff accommodations forces healthcare professionals to reside far from the center, resulting in disrupted schedules and compromised healthcare delivery.
The challenges facing the Beposo CHPS compound bring to light the broader healthcare concerns in the Shama Municipality.
As the entry point to the Western Region, the municipality surprisingly lacks modern healthcare infrastructure, with only one health center struggling to cope with numerous challenges.
Attempts by the erstwhile Akufo-Addo government to build a hospital for the municipality did not materialize, leaving residents to patronize CHPS compounds which by their make provide limited health care services for residents in the municipality.
Upgrading the Beposo CHPS Compound to a health center would be a crucial step in strengthening healthcare delivery in the municipality, providing residents with improved access to quality medical care.
Author – Dorothy Donkor
