Marking yet another stride in its commitment to comprehensive local development, the Ayawaso West Municipal Assembly on Thursday, August 24, 2023, convened a community engagement with residents and stakeholders in the municipality. The gathering aimed to sensitize residents and stakeholders about the proposed construction of a Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compound in Santana.

The facility, which is the first of its kind in the municipality, is a one-storey CHPS with sections such as an Outpatient Department, Dispensary, Wards, a Pharmacy, Stores, and nurses' bungalows among others.

Addressing the gathering, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Sandra Owusu-Ahinkorah, passionately conveyed the importance of the project. She stated, "Our primary objective is to extend healthcare services to the doorsteps of our community members, addressing their medical needs promptly and efficiently, while reducing the burden of lengthy journeys for medical attention."

The Municipal Chief Executive underscored the dire need for a local healthcare solution, "We've heard far too many unfortunate accounts of lives lost en route to distant hospitals. We aim to change this narrative. The concept of a CHPS Compound has been meticulously considered for two years, though not without challenges. We've conducted thorough feasibility studies and identified this project location as both fitting and secure for the facility's establishment."

She also said the Assembly had already secured funding for the project with work expected to complete within six months.

She therefore called upon residents and stakeholders to unite in support of the CHPS Compound construction as its completion would directly contribute to reducing preventable death in the community.

Dr. Louisa Ademki Matey, the Municipal Health Director, praised the Assembly's proposal for the CHPS Compound. She emphasized that the facility would play a vital role in providing healthcare services and aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 3.

She also said the services offered by the facility upon completion would encompass health education in addressing prevalent health issues, promotion of food supply and proper nutrition, enhancement of physical well-being and personal hygiene, maternal, newborn, and child healthcare including antenatal and postnatal care, as well as family planning and immunization services.

Madam Esther Boateng, the Assembly member for Santana Electoral Area, on her part, expressed optimism about the project's potential to improve healthcare access in the area. She pointed out that many individuals currently seek medical care at government facilities in neighboring areas, and the CHPS Compound would alleviate the burdens faced by the local population.