Tamale N/R: BasicNeeds Ghana donates office equipment to health facilities in 14 Districts

BasicNeeds Ghana, in partnership with other stakeholders, has donated office equipment to selected health facilities in 14 districts across six regions of Ghana to strengthen mental health counselling services for vulnerable women and girls.

The intervention is intended to improve counselling environments for pregnant women, adolescent girls and mothers who have recently given birth, particularly those living with HIV and tuberculosis.

The donation worth 700,000 Ghana cedis included office furniture, Fans, Air Conditioners, and Foldable Screens. Among other things, it is expected to strengthen support for survivors of gender-based violence by creating more appropriate spaces for counselling and psychosocial care.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Tamale, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Professor Samuel A. Kaba, praised BasicNeeds Ghana and its partners for complementing government efforts to improve healthcare delivery.

He said civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations have an important role to play in addressing gaps in healthcare and improving the well-being of vulnerable groups.

Professor Kaba noted that some women experience depression following childbirth through circumstances beyond their control, but may receive little understanding or support from their families.

He therefore called for increased counselling and psychosocial assistance for affected women to help them recover and reintegrate into their families and communities.

The Executive Director of BasicNeeds Ghana, Dr. Peter Badimak Yaro, said mental health challenges can have serious consequences for sexual, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health.

He urged policymakers and other stakeholders to step up efforts to address mental health needs, particularly among pregnant women and adolescent girls.

Dr. Yaro also stressed the importance of ensuring that women and girls who suffer abuse have access to timely counselling and psychosocial support to help them cope with the effects of trauma.

The Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Chrysantus Kubio, acknowledged that there are still significant gaps in the provision of mental health services, especially for women and adolescents.

He urged the beneficiary districts to take proper care of the donated equipment and maintain the counselling facilities to ensure they remain functional and accessible to those who need them.

The 14 beneficiary districts are drawn from Northern, North East, Upper East, and Upper West regions.

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