The Rotary Club of Wa, in partnership with the Rotaract District 9104, has donated medical equipment worth USD2500 to the St. Stella’s Health Centre at Karni in the Lambussie District of the Upper West Region to boost healthcare delivery.
The equipment included delivery and detention beds, medical screen, glucometer, resuscitation tray, Vacuum extractor, BP apparatus, HB meter and a Fetal Doppler, adult weighing scale, protective gown, and select glucometer.
Dr Zakaria Al-Hassan Balure, the President of the Rotary Club of Wa, who presented the equipment, said the donation was the Club’s efforts to improve the health and well-being of the people, particularly those at Karni and its environs.
“This donation reiterates our commitment to supporting humanity and help solve social problems with a focus on remote communities,” he explained.
Dr Balure said the decision to support the St. Stella’s Health Centre was informed by the challenge it faced in service delivery.
“During our visit to this health centre in 2023 to validate the requested needs, we realised that lack of medical equipment was a big challenge to the staff so we thought it wise that as a humanitarian organisation, we should support the facility,” he said.
“We know this cannot solve all their problems, but we believe that it will reduce the challenges to some extent and enhance the delivery of quality healthcare service to the people who come to seek healthcare,” Dr Balure said.
Mr Richard Abulbire, In-Charge of the Centre, expressed gratitude to the Rotary Club and its partners for the equipment, which would help deliver essential and emergency services to patients.
“They will also help in ensuring that safe, timely, accurate and effective medical intervention is given to all and sundry who frequent the facility to access quality healthcare,” he said.
“Our condition was so bad to the extent that a pregnant woman was delivered on the floor because the maternity ward in the facility has just one hospital bed, which was occupied.”
He, however, expressed concern over the lack of transport, staff accommodation, laboratory facility and emergency centre at the facility and appealed to the Government, philanthropic organisations and individuals to go to their aid.
Madam Agnes Dari, a pregnant woman, who was present at the facility to access healthcare, said the medical equipment would alleviate the struggles they went through in accessing health care.
Mr Alhassan Inussah Agambire, the Immediate Past President, Rotary Club of Wa, commended the Rotary District 9104 grant committee for funding the project and called for more support from individuals and organisations.
“Rotarians are indeed rich in their heart who want to see change in their communities through working in partnership with other like-minded individuals and organisation,” he said.