Community apathy slowing spread of CHPS Compounds

Mrs Veronica Apetorgbor National Coordinator of the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compounds has attributed the slow growth of the concept to apathy.

She said the concept was community-based, but in many communities the people are not supporting it.

Mrs Apetorgbor was speaking to the GNA on the sidelines of the inauguration of a CHPS Compound at Dalive, in the South Tongu District, Volta Region.

She said communities are expected to help put-up the structures and assist the operations of the facilities as co-owners.

“The problem has stunted progress. Some CHPS Compounds even operate in containers and some in single rooms and with a single staff, not unique for the plan,” she said.

Mrs Apetorgbor said the situation is hampering the effort to accredit the CHPS Compounds, as service zones, to the National Health Insurance Scheme.

She said CHPS Compounds lack the standard infrastructure, staff and logistics.

Mrs Apetorgbor complained that motorbikes supplied for outreach visits are not gender-sensitive.

She said they were “too huge and tall for the female staff, who are afraid to use them."

As a result of poor interest, only 20 per cent of communities with CHPS nationwide had constituted CHPS Committees to assist the facilities to operate, she added.

Mrs Apetorgbor therefore appealed to assembly members and opinion leaders to take up the challenge.

She said government and some NGOs had decided fully to bear the construction of the CHPS Compound to quicken progress of instituting the concept faster in the country.

She said the scheme is important in curbing maternal and infant mortality and needed to be embraced.

Mrs Helen Sarpong-Akorsah, South-Tongu District Director, Ghana Health Services said effective education and patient visits by CHPS Compound staff had help to reduce malaria deaths from seven in 2012 to three last year at Dalive and no maternal deaths.

She commended the Dalive community for their exceptional zeal in the establishment and running of the Compound.

Mr Samuel Eworyi, District Chief Executive said his outfit would actively support the concept.