Babies weighed under neem tree – Sahakpalgu residents appeal for improved health facility

The lack of a proper health facility in Sahakpalgu in the Nanton District in the Northern Region has forced health workers to weigh babies under a neem tree and attend to patients in dilapidated teachers’ quarters.

The situation exposes babies and other patients to harsh weather conditions and potential health risks, while compromising their privacy and comfort during healthcare delivery.

The weighing machine is mounted on a narrow support that appears fragile, raising concerns about the safety of infants during routine weighing.

Originally constructed as teachers’ accommodation, the existing building where health workers have taken solace has deteriorated, with parts of its roof leaking whenever it rains.

The facility lacks a refrigerator for storing vaccines, compelling health workers to keep them at the Gumani Health Centre.

A health worker weighing a baby under a neem tree.

However, such an arrangement creates additional logistical challenges for health workers and complicates vaccine storage and delivery.

Also, there is no midwife in the entire community to provide specialised care for pregnant women, compelling them to travel long distances for health care, particularly during labour.

Additionally, construction of a CHPS compound intended to serve the community has stalled for many years, forcing residents to depend on the temporary facilities for health care.

Some of the residents who spoke to Daily Graphic lamented the deplorable health facility and said the situation was impeding healthcare delivery in the community. Sharing her experience, a resident, Sulemana Abidatu, said she was referred to the Kamina Health Centre to deliver her baby because Sahakpalgu had no midwife.

The uncompleted CHPS compound taken over by weeds

“Our road to Kamina and even Tamale is not in good shape. It is very difficult for pregnant women to use it, but we have no other choice,” she said.

`A breastfeeding mother, Yakubu Ayisha, shared similar sentiments, saying the leaking roof disrupts healthcare delivery whenever it rains.

She, therefore, appealed for the urgent completion of the abandoned facility and the construction of new ones to enhance healthcare delivery in the area.

The Secretary to the Chief of Sahakpalgu, Mohammed Hamis Sulemana, who spoke on behalf of the chief, said completing and equipping the CHPS compound would improve access to essential maternal and child healthcare services.

He said although the community lacked other basic amenities, completing the health facility was its top priority because it would ease the difficulties residents faced in accessing health care.

For his part, the Assembly Member for the area, Uriah Sayibu, said the situation had placed an additional burden on residents who had to travel outside the community for health care.

He said several complaints had been made to the Nanton District Assembly, but the project remained incomplete.

Mr Sayibu appealed to the District Assembly, individuals, philanthropists and non-governmental organisations to support the community to complete and equip the facility.

When contacted, the District Chief Executive for Nanton, Rosina Zenabu Abdul-Rahaman, acknowledged that the CHPS compound remained incomplete and attributed the delay to the contractor.

The dilapidated teachers quarters being used as health facility

She said funds for the project were available in the Assembly’s account and would be paid to the contractor upon completion of the work.

When the contractor finishes, we are going to give him the money.

But if he fails to complete it within one week, I will re-award it to a different person,” she said.