Asuakwaa gets new clinic



Days of traveling miles to access medical care at Asuakwaa in the Sunyani West District of the Bono- Ahafo region and its adjoining communities is now a thing of the past.

This is because the Methodist Church with support from USAID and the MP for the area, Ignatius Baffuor Awuah has built a new clinic for the Community. 

The clinic which is estimated at about 250 thousand cedis is expected to cater for the basic health needs of the people. 

GBC’s Regional Correspondent, Freda Abban witnessed the official opening of the facility and has come through with the following report.
 
 Asuakwaa, also known as 'Small London, is a predominantly a farming community noted for the cultivation of crops such as Oil Palm, plantain, cassava, maize and many others. 

It has a population of over 2500. Like other under privileged communities, Asuakwaah lacks amenities such as potable water, sanitation facilities, good roads, recreational centres and schools. 

As part of efforts to make life stress free and health care more accessible to the inhabitants of Asuakwa and its environs, two ministers from the Methodist church, Most Rev. Dr. Robert Aboagye -Mensah and Very Rev. Noah Afriyie and the entire membership of the Church in Chiraa Circuit decided to build a clinic for the town in 2009 . 

The USAID deemed the move laudable and so offered its support by way of cash and other materials. 

The Chiefs and People of Asuakeaa provided a parcel of land and labour as their contribution to the construction of the edifice. 

The MP for Sunyani West, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, also chipped in, roofing and supporting the project generally. 

Now a fully completed and furnished clinic, the Asuakwaa Methodist Clinic offers general medical care to its patrons. 

It has an Emergency unit, a Main Ward, an out-patient department and delivery and consulting rooms. 

In addition, accommodation has been made available for the clinic staff. 

The furnishing and equipping of the various units was done by the Sunyani Diocese with support from the Wenchi Methodist Hospital. 

The Chiraa Health Center is credited for providing some drugs as their widow's might to help the clinic begin its operations. 

To express their joy, the inhabitants of Asuakwaaman matched through the streets amidst brass band music to the forecourt of the new clinic where the Asuakwaa Hene Nana Kwasi Yeboah, flanked by the Queen mother, Nana Abena Bermah and the Methodist Bishop of Sunyani, Rt. Rev. Kofi Asare Bediako, cut the tape to officially open the clinic. 

The Krontihene of the area, Nana Yaw Sekyi, told radio Ghana that the edifice will be of great help to the people as hitherto they had to travel miles to access quality healthcare. 

The MP for the area, Ignatius Baffour Awuah also spoke to Radio Ghana. 

He praised the Methodist church for the gesture and promised to assist the management of the clinic to obtain NHIS accreditation for increased coverage and service delivery for the people. 

The Bishop of Sunyani, RT. Rev. Kofi Asare Bediako entreated the people to patronize the services of the clinic and live healthy lifestyles.  

GBC