By Elorm Yao Aryee
Maternal and neonatal healthcare has received a major boost at Tongor-Dzemeni in the South Dayi District of the Volta Region with the inauguration of a modern maternity block at the Evangelical Presbyterian (E.P) Health Centre.
The facility was fully furnished by the Rotary Club of Ho, supported by the Rotary Foundation and the Rotary Club of Bridgeport in the USA.
The Evangelical Presbyterian (E.P) Health Centre at Tongor Dzemeni provides healthcare delivery for thousands of citizens in the South Dayi District and parts of the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region.
It also serves numerous patients in island communities in the Volta and Eastern Regions. Prior to the commissioning of the new maternity block furnished by the Rotary Club of Ho, maternal and neonatal healthcare delivery was a major challenge for staff and patients.
The Rotary Club of Ho provided all the medical equipment needed for smooth operations at the new facility at a cost of 40 thousand US Dollars.
They include hospital and delivery beds, incubators, photo-therapy machines, among others.
Speaking at the ceremony at Tongor-Dzemeni, the Vice President of the Rotary Club of Ho, Eric Bortey, noted that the gesture forms part of the Club’s focus areas for humanitarian services, which include maternal and child healthcare in deprived communities.
He said the club felt the need to support when the E.P Church, Ghana, made the request. They also considered the number of people who seek medical services at the health centre daily.
Mr Bortey hoped that the facility would alleviate some of the maternal and infant health challenges in the area. The midwife in charge of the facility, Miguella Donkor, recounts that working at the old maternity unit was uncomfortable considering the lack of space and medical equipment.
She stated, however, that the new block will enable staff to deliver medical services, which hitherto would be referred to major health centres due to lack of logistics and space.
The First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield in the USA partnered with the E.P Church Ghana for the construction of the new maternity block.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the E.P Church Ghana, Rt Rev Lt. Col (Rtd) Dr Bliss Divine Agbeko, thanked the Rotary Club and the Presbyterian Church of Fairfield for their benevolence.
He said the E.P Church will continue to expand its healthcare services across the country to complement the government’s efforts.
An Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield, John Winstead pledged that the Church will partner with the E.P Church to embark on similar projects to enhance the lives of citizens as part of its humanitarian services.