Health News of Saturday, 10 January 2015

Source: GNA

Five CHPS compound faced with ejection threats

Five of the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHIPS), created by the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Directorate of Health to offer quality health care to the under-served and hard to reach areas, are on the verge of collapse.

These CHIPS compounds are being hosted in rented apartments at Apremdo, Anaji, Kojokrom, Diabene and Assakae.

For some months now, health authorities have been unable to settle their rent bills, the GNA has learnt.

For instance, the Apremdo landlord in a letter, reportedly, requested the Health Directorate to pay GH¢3000.00 in arrears or face ejection.

The CHIPS compounds have served very useful purposes in communities with no hospitals over the years augmenting quality healthcare accessibility in line with the Millennium Development Goals.

Mrs. Joyce Bagina, the Metropolitan Health Director, who confirmed the threats to the GNA, said the directorate was in dire need of funds to meet such huge bills from landlords.

She, therefore, urged the communities to partner the Directorate to sustain the facilities.

“We are unable to do lots of things due to resource constraint,” she stated.

Mrs. Bagina also complained about the delay in disbursing the NHIS Fund, a situation, she said, was having a negative impact on their operations.