Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, has provided a state-of-the-art health facility worth over GHS700,000 to the Santaso community, a cocoa farming area located in the Ayinase North region of Ellembelle, Western Region.
This marks a significant milestone for the community, which previously lacked a dedicated healthcare facility, leading to numerous preventable deaths, including maternal and accident-related mortalities.
The health center, which is expected to serve over 1,000 residents, is the first in the area and aims to provide essential healthcare services, including maternal care, accident treatment, and general medical services.
The completion of the facility, which took nine months, was made possible through the collaboration of Buah, the Santaso community, and the District Health Directorate.
The nearest health facilities, located in Edusuazo and Asomase, are far from Santaso, making it difficult for residents to access timely medical care. As Buah explained, this health facility will serve not only Santaso but also surrounding communities, providing residents with much-needed healthcare within a short distance, reducing travel times for medical attention and potentially saving lives.
In addition to the health facility, Buah also contributed GHS167,000 for the donation of 10 motorcycles to the Ellembelle Health Directorate. These motorcycles will be used for outreach health campaigns in remote areas.
Moreover, he provided GHS650,000 to rehabilitate a broken-down ambulance to ensure efficient emergency healthcare services, which had been hindered by poor road conditions in the area.
The Ellembelle District Health Director, Dr. Augustine Amoakoh, expressed gratitude for Buah’s intervention, acknowledging the significant impact the new facility will have on improving healthcare access in this previously underserved area.
He also highlighted the importance of the health center in addressing emergencies, such as obstetric complications, that previously required long and dangerous travel to district hospitals.
The Chief of Santaso, Nana Simone Marfoe, and several residents expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the health facility, noting that it would alleviate the hardships they faced due to the lack of healthcare services in the community.
The residents shared their experiences of lost lives, especially during childbirth, due to the lack of proximity to medical care. Now, with the new health center in place, they are optimistic about improved healthcare outcomes.
In addition to the health facility, Buah also supported education and skill development in the community.
He donated GHS20,000 to assist first-year students from Santaso with logistical needs and distributed 200 sewing machines and hairdryers to beneficiaries of his free skill training apprenticeship program.
Residents, including Rufaw Adams and Sadia Suleh, who received the sewing machines, expressed their gratitude, stating that the equipment would significantly enhance their ability to earn a livelihood.
This comprehensive intervention by Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah is expected to have a lasting impact on the Santaso community, improving healthcare, education, and economic opportunities, thus transforming the lives of its residents.
