Bad roads force women in Upper West Region to deliver on motor bikes

The lack of health facility and the bad state of roads in the Upper West Region has compelled pregnant women to deliver their babies without proper health supervision.

About six women in the Sawla -Tuna –Kalba District, were forced to deliver their babies by themselves.

The only health facility in the district is in Tuna, which is 25 five kilometres from settlements.

Normally, the pregnant women depend on Kia trucks or motorbikes to send them to the only health facility, but due to the poor state of the roads, not all of them are able to make it to the clinic.

Fatima Mahama is a mother of eight and has been living in a farming community for 40 years.

Two of her babies, twins, were delivered on her way to the Tuna health centre.

She delivered on a motorbike.
Others who have tried to deliver on the moving bikes have fallen off.

It has been three years since the incident occurred, yet the road is still potholed.

Pregnant women find it difficult to attend antenatal and postnatal service at the Tuna health centre due to the unmotorable nature of the roads.

Another mother, Fatimata Issah who is a mother of two, has had two still births on the road.

She told Joy News’ Rafiq Salam “it has been a terrible experience”.

The newly enkinned chief of the community Kongwura Seidu Adamu Ginkurge I, is not happy with the situation.

He is appealing to authorities to come to the aid of the district.

Meanwhile, the Sawla -Tuna-Kalba district director of the Ghana Health Service, Thomas Bebeh Sennor has also expressed worry about the situation.

He was however quick to add that a contract has already been awarded for the construction of a community health centre.

Another health facility will also be constructed by the USAID, he added.

Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed Muniru at the coronation of the chief of the community pledged the government commitment to construct a CHPS compound for the community to ease the health challenges.