The Savelugu-Nanton Municipal Assembly, in collaboration with the Resiliency in Northern Ghana (RING) Project funded by the USAID Feed the Future (FtF) initiative, has presented 16 refrigerators, 8 motorbikes and 16 bicycles worth GH¢ 91,540.90 to 16 Health facilities of the Savelugu- Nanton Municipality in the Northern region.

The equipment are to help boost effective and efficient health service delivery in the Municipality.

The beneficiary health facilities include: Nambagla, Nanton Kurugu, Nyolgu, Kuldanaali, Guntingli and Fazihini CHPS compounds; Moglaa, Zoggu, Tampion, Nanton, Diare, Pong-Tamale, Jan-Jori Kukuo Health Centers, and the Savelugu RCH.

The Motorbikes were presented to Health Workers in 8 of the Health Facilities to improve outreach health service delivery while the bicycles were presented to Community-based Health Volunteers to facilitate healthcare services to the communities.

Savelegu- Nanton Municipal Assembly Hon. Abdulai Alhassan Red handing over logistic supplies to the Municipal Director of Health Services – Dr. John Abenyire.

Speaking at the ceremony to present the logistic supplies to the Savelugu-Nanton Municipal Director of Ghana Health Services Dr. John Abenyire, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Abdulai Alhassan Red said the Assembly and RING appreciate the pivotal role the Health Service play in the development of the Municipality and as such decided to use part of funds received from USAID in 2015 to purchase the equipment to further boost health service delivery in the Municipality.

Hon. Abdulai Alhassan Red noted that it’s the hope of the Assembly and RING that the provision of the refrigerators to the health facilities will address the challenges they have faced over the years in storing vital drugs and vaccines under appropriate temperature to maintain their efficacy over time. Likewise, the motorbikes and bicycles procured should result in increased timely delivery of health services to people at the community level.

Beneficiaries of the equipment should be able to make the required number of visits to their clients to provide quality health services.

Hon. Abdulai Alhassan Red advised the Savelugu-Nanton Municipal Health Direction to see to it that the equipment is adequately used for the purpose the were purchased and ensure proper maintenance and repairs as required. He cautioned that end users of the equipment should keep them safely to prevent theft.

Receiving the items, the Municipal Health Director, Dr. John Abenyire thanked the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Municipal Assembly for the kind gesture and pledged to put the items to good use; the director also reassured that his office will continue to monitor the use of the equipment and ensure the items are maintained regularly for long term durability. He encouraged his team present at the ceremony to report any damage caused to any of the equipment without fail and to maintain them at all times.

Dr. John Abenyire added that over the past one and half year, GHS in the Savelugu-Municipal Assembly has received good support – both technical and equipment from the RING Project through the Assembly and hoped for continued support to the service to provide quality and accessible healthcare to the people.

RING is a five-year project designed to contribute to the Government of Ghana's efforts to sustainably reduce poverty and improve the livelihoods and nutritional status of vulnerable households in 17 districts of the Northern Region. RING focuses on the poorest households that include women of reproductive age and children under five.

RING is designed to contribute to the following USAID/Ghana Feed the Future (FtF) goals:

1. 20% decrease in prevalence of stunting among children under five;

2. 20% decrease in prevalence of anemia among children under five;

3. 20% decrease in prevalence of underweight among children under five;

4. 20% decrease in prevalence of wasting among children under five.