Ayorkor Builds GH₵80,000 Clinic

Shirley Ayorkor Botchway with Dominic Quaye and some dignitaries at the clinic after the inauguration  

THE MEMBER of Parliament (MP) for Anyaa-Sowutuom in Accra, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway , has inaugurated a new clinic at a cost of GH₵80,000, in the Ga Central Municipality.

The clinic, which is the first public health facility in the Sowutuom area, was funded through the MP’s National Health Insurance Fund with support from the Municipal Assembly and the Ghana Health Service.

Speaking at the opening, Ms Botchway said the country is still lagging behind in attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on maternal and infant mortality, hence, the need to construct adequate health facilities to enable citizens to have swift access to a healthcare centre during emergencies to help reduce the rate at which women and children die at birth.

She also called for benevolent organisations to also contribute their quota to supplementing equipment at the clinic.

The MP indicated that efforts have also been directed at transforming education and social infrastructure sectors in the locality, but until government moves to establish a major hospital in the area, the clinic would be apt in addressing some health challenges of the community.

‘Infant mortality rate is still high. Death rates can only be reduced through regular checks for babies and mothers, hence a unit has been a set aside to address such needs,’ she said.

Dominic Amarh Quaye, the Municipal Director of Health Services, said the assembly would bear the initial operation cost of the facility until it is fully fledged to generate and manage its revenue.

‘In terms of equipment, we have been able to procure some medical equipment and office furniture with the fund the Member of Parliament have secured. They include electronic beds, mattresses, bed sheets and crutches,’ he mentioned.

Expressing gratitude to the representative for her efforts, he tasked officers at the centre to maintain the equipment and also show commitment in performing their duties.

He also acknowledged the electoral member for the area, Alhaji Abdalah Shuaib, for his efforts towards the construction.

Aristos Aryee, MCE, Ga Central, described the facility as one which has brought great relief to residents of Sowutuom as they would no longer suffer the burden of plying long routes to seek treatment.

  BY Ernest Nutsugah