Healthcare delivery in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa (DBI) District has received a major boost following the commissioning of a series of interventions aimed at improving access to quality medical care and clean water for residents.
The Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District Assembly has handed over a fully renovated medical doctor’s bungalow, procured 10 modern delivery beds for health facilities, and commissioned 19 new water projects across the district.
The interventions, led by the District Chief Executive (DCE), James Wor, are expected to significantly improve maternal healthcare, emergency medical services, and access to potable water in communities across the Upper West Region.
At a ceremony held at the Issa Polyclinic, the Assembly officially presented the renovated bungalow to the district’s only medical doctor, Acting Medical Superintendent, Dr. Paschalina Langmagne.
Before the renovation, the building had deteriorated to such an extent that Dr. Langmagne was forced to commute more than 80 kilometres daily from Wa to Issa, a situation that often affected emergency healthcare delivery.
Explaining the decision to renovate the facility, Mr. Wor said the poor condition of the bungalow made it impossible for the district’s only doctor to reside within the district.
“This bungalow was in a very deplorable state. So when our only doctor, Dr. Pascalina, was posted to this district, she had to stay in Wa and commute over 80 kilometres every day to deliver healthcare services,” he said.
An emotional Dr. Langmagne welcomed the intervention, describing it as a huge relief after months of enduring exhausting daily journeys.
“I can’t express my joy because the trips every day from Wa to Issa and back, sometimes at night, have not been easy. You need a lot of courage to do that,” she said.
“Initially, it was not a place fit for anyone to live in. But now, I have no excuse not to move in.”
Despite the improvement, she appealed to the Assembly and other stakeholders to provide the district with a functioning vehicle, revealing that the facility’s only official vehicle has been grounded for over a month, forcing her to use her personal car for official assignments.
In addition to the bungalow, the Assembly supplied 10 modern delivery beds to health facilities, including the Issa Polyclinic and the Fian Health Centre, replacing old and damaged equipment that had posed serious risks to expectant mothers.
The bungalow renovation and procurement of the delivery beds cost more than GH¢300,000 and were funded through the District Assembly Common Fund.
Mr. Wor said a recent inspection of health facilities exposed alarming conditions, with some expectant mothers giving birth on broken delivery beds supported with stones.
“I realised that some CHPS compounds and health centres did not have delivery beds. Even those that had some were completely worn out. In some cases, stones were being used to support broken delivery beds. It was an eyesore,” he said.
District Director of Health Services, Genevieve Yiripare, noted that the interventions would directly improve maternal healthcare and reduce preventable deaths.
“We had challenges and were losing lives because our doctor was not resident in the district,” she said, adding that technicians were already assembling the new beds for immediate use.
The Paramount Chief of Issa, represented by his spokesperson Naa Bismark Bietuari Kulbile Naa, pledged the traditional council’s support in maintaining the renovated facilities through regular community clean-up exercises.
As part of the tour, the DCE also inspected renovation works at the Sazie CHPS compound.
He disclosed that the Assembly had to divert funds to rehabilitate three CHPS compounds and one health centre after the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) threatened to withdraw accreditation because of their deteriorating condition.
Mr. Wor further announced that the Assembly would complete two community-initiated maternity wards in Sazie and Wogu that had remained abandoned for more than a decade.
“You started a maternity ward over 10 years ago and it remained incomplete. We understand how difficult it is for communities to mobilise resources, so the Assembly has decided to complete it for you,” he assured residents.
He also announced that construction of a long-awaited CHPS compound at Issa Sintaayiri would begin within the next three weeks.
Beyond healthcare, the Assembly officially handed over 19 newly constructed boreholes to communities to address longstanding water shortages.
The projects comprise six hand-pump boreholes and 13 mechanised boreholes funded through the District Assembly Common Fund.
Speaking during a symbolic handover ceremony at Sazie, Mr. Wor said the initiative was aimed at ensuring reliable access to clean drinking water across the district.
“Today, we are officially handing over not only the borehole in Sazie but also six hand-pump boreholes serving various communities. Sazie is simply representing all the beneficiary communities,” he said.
The six hand-pump boreholes were constructed at a cost of GH¢360,000, while five of the mechanised boreholes cost GH¢480,000.
Residents of Sazie, including Cletus Samari and Pogziema Dosa, expressed gratitude to the Assembly, saying the new boreholes had ended years of hardship caused by travelling long distances in search of water.
However, the DCE raised concerns about the poor state of roads in the district, warning that the Sazie road could become impassable if a deteriorating culvert collapses during the rainy season.
“If that culvert is washed away, the entire community will be cut off. Residents won’t be able to access their farms, Tabiasi or even the district capital,” he warned.
He explained that the road contract had been awarded more than a decade ago but was cancelled following a change of government and has since not been repackaged.
Mr. Wor assured residents that the Assembly is engaging the relevant authorities to revive the project and prevent communities such as Kanato, Sologwo and Pizaga from becoming completely isolated during the rains.
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