Philanthropist break grounds to builds GH¢149,619.17 maternity block for Assin Breku Philanthropist break grounds to builds GH¢149,619.17 maternity block for Assin Breku

Ghana News Agency

Wed 10th Jul, 2019 16:02

By Isaac Arkoh, GNA     

Assin-Breku (C/R), July 10, GNA - Mr Charles Saasi, a businessman and a philanthropist, on Wednesday, cut sod for the construction of a state-of-the-art maternity block for residents of Breku, capital of the Assin North District.

The facility, valued at GH¢149,619.17, would be completed in 20 weeks to augment government’s interventions to effectively improve general healthcare delivery.

The disability-friendly structure will have an Antenatal Care and Reproductive and Child Health Units, wards and delivery suits, store rooms, waiting area and porch.

Addressing a durbar of chiefs and people, the philanthropist said he was touched by the lack of adequate ward for expectant mothers in the area and decided to support to safeguard the health of mothers and their babies.

He was of the hope that the facility will help ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all, as well as enhance efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on health.

Additionally, he had constructed a two-kilometre feeder road in the community to ease commuting distance to the facility and the Central Business District (CBD).

Mr George Opoku Asemadu, acting District Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), was full of praise for the philanthropist and opinion leaders in the community for providing the needed support leading to the successful groundbreaking ceremony of the much anticipated project.

He reiterated that the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compounds being provided by the government in far to reach areas  was key to achieving the Universal Health Coverage by 2030 to provide health care delivery and financial protection to all citizens as an integral part of the SDGs.

The acting Director of Health said the edifice was in line with the vision of the District Health Directorate to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, adding that it could only be achieved if stakeholders played their respective roles effectively.

He advised women to report to the Centre as soon as they got pregnant to ensure the safety of both the mother and the unborn baby.

Mr Asemadu told the health personnel posted the area to be professional and uphold high level of integrity in the discharge of their duties.

Mr Charles Ohene Andoh, the District Chief Executive (DCE), was thankful to the philanthropist for his generosity and urged the people to support every development effort and do away with the spirit of "we can't do it and it's impossible" but exhibit a high degree of volunteerism and sacrifice to accelerate development.

He expressed the resolve of the Assembly to upgrade the facility into a modern polyclinic, complete abandoned health infrastructure and document all land entitlements.

GNA