GHS takes delivery of additional logistical supplies from PARDA

Dr Michael Wombeogo, Director PARDA

Dr Wombeogo doing the official handing over to the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Issah

A charitable Health Related NGO, Participatory Action for Rural Development Alternatives, PARDA, has over the past two years advance the provision of health infrastructure and logistic support to the Ghana Health Service in the Upper East Region.

Over the said period, PARDA has injected a whopping 549, 446 Ghana Cedis in the health sector of the region to support deprived communities on Maternal and Child Health Care, MCH.

This came to light when PARDA handed over large quantity of medical and logistical supplies to the GHS for onward delivery to twelve selected health facilities in its five operational areas.

The Director of PARDA, Dr. Michael Wombeogo who made the disclosure at a brief presentation ceremony at Zuarungu said the items are meant to equip the beneficiary facilities with the hope to actualizing the organisation’s long term objective of ensuring zero maternal and child mortality for 2017 and beyond.

The items include set of laptop computers, delivery beds, 60 bicycles, 3 motorbikes, and 12 tricycle ambulances among other baby toiletries.

Isaac Asare who was there for Radio Ghana and reports that, with donor support by Oxfam Ghana, KLUB-Austria and Zochonis Charitable Trust-UK, PARDA has prompted key interventions with appropriate strategies to lessen the plight of deprived communities and health facilities in its five operational areas.

They are Bolga Municipal, Kassena-Nankana East, Bawku West, Nabdam and Talensi.

Meanwhile, PARDA since 2012 had fostered close partnership with the GHS in promoting active maternal and child health care in the said areas.

Through Oxfam, PARDA had over the period strengthened its capacity building intervention with active participation and engagement of community health volunteers to enhance effective MCH care.

Relatively, PARDA had facilitated the provision of logistic support and training of Nurses and Midwives, Traditional Birth Attendance, TBAs, Community Health Committees and District Health Directors to enable them work towards improving access to quality maternal and child health care within their communities.

However, the provision of the medical and logistical supplies to the GHS was to equip the targeted health facilities to enhance skill delivery and improve maternal health.

Communities such as Sapeliga, Sumbrumgu, Duusi, Gorogo, Naaga and Gia were among the few that received the tricycle ambulances popularly called "motorking ambulances".

Outlining some gains made over the years, the Director of PARDA, Dr. Michael Wombeogo encouraged the leadership of the GHS to capitalize on the achievements made to post the requisite midwives and nurses to the communities to man the various health facilities.

In 2013, facilities under PARDA’s project implementation recorded a historic zero maternal and neonatal morbidity with significant increase in antenatal and post-natal care registration and attendance.

Moreover, there was a correspondent increase in facility deliveries with 2015/16 recording 77 percent as against 56.7 percent chalked between 2013 and 2014.

In view of sterling feat, PARDA says it was ready to work with like-minded organizations to enhance effort at achieving the universal target of zero maternal and neonatal deaths as captured in the SDG 3.

The Regional Director of Health Service, Dr. Kofi Issah who received the items showed gratitude to PARDA and its implementing partners for the kind gesture.

He called for regular maintenance of the items and further urged staff of the GHS to build synergies with the communities to promote effective healthcare delivery.

Present to grace the occasion was the Programs and Campaign Officer for Oxfam, Dr. Mrs. Felicia Esinam Pufaa.

Also present was the Board Chair of PARDA, Dr Joseph Ayembilla among some District Health Directors drawn from the 12 beneficiary communities.

GBC