The Kukuom NHIS office
The only ambulance serving the Kukuom Health Centre in the Asunafo South District capital and its environs has broken down for the past eight months, leaving the health facility without any means of transporting referrals to hospitals in the region.
The nearest hospitals, Goaso Government Hospital and the Brong Ahafo Regional Hospital at Sunyani, are about 100 kilometres away. This is a source of worry to the centre’s authorities and community members.
In addition, the Kukuom Health Centre has no means of transport for its day to day activities. The only motorbike available is also not working. Established in 1968, the facility serves approximately 100, 000 people in the Asunafo South District. With an average out-patient department (OPD) of 70 patients daily, it receives cases such as malaria, diarrhoea, domestic injuries and chest infections.
The physician assistant in-charge of the facility, Florence Owusuwaa, told DAILY GUIDE that lack of ambulance is the biggest challenge facing the health centre. She said 20 to 24 babies are delivered every month. However, the centre also lacks BP apparatus.
“NHIS claims are not reimbursed on time, so we owe service providers so much,” she disclosed. A newly-constructed female and children wards by the district assembly are also without beds.
With a workforce of 27 staff, including a medical assistant being the head, three midwives (two of whom came recently), 16 nurses, five community health nurses, the facility serves about 100, 000 people in the Asunafo South District.
Florence Owusuwaa stated that the facility needs accommodation for its staff, an ambulance and other means of transport to the serve the Asunafo South District efficiently.
From Daniel Y Dayee, Kukuom