Sokode Lokoe Health Center to get major upgrade following MCE’s site visit

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ho Hon. Stephen Adom has pledged urgent intervention to address challenges facing the Sokode Lokoe CHPS compound, following a visit to assess complaints from the community and health staff.

The MCE said the purpose of the visit was to respond directly to concerns raised by residents and health workers. After an on-site inspection, he acknowledged that most of the issues were genuine and required immediate action.

He disclosed that the erosion has destroyed a significant portion of the facility, leaving the building at risk. To address this, authorities plan to expand and upgrade the health center soon. The upgraded facility will include a dedicated laboratory and delivery room, a maternity resting area, and a new waiting area, with services eventually moving from the current CHPS compound to the new health center.

The MCE also outlined broader plans to ensure universal access to healthcare within the municipality. He noted that a few communities still lack a health facility or CHPS compound, but plans are well advanced to address the gap.

One such community is Akrofu, where engineers have determined that the existing structure cannot be renovated due to its age. A new CHPS compound will instead be constructed there, with funding to be factored into the supplementary budget by June and completion expected before the end of the year.

“It is my goal that by the time I leave office, no community in the municipality will be without a health facility,” the MCE stated.

Municipal Health Director, Madam Perfect Titiati, said the Sokode Lokoe CHPS compound is currently overstretched due to the large population it serves. She stressed that expansion is critical, particularly for maternity services, to provide a safe and comfortable environment for expectant mothers.

She confirmed that a proposal to extend the facility with a maternity block has been approved. In addition, she said a recent rainstorm caused considerable damage to the building, and a new front shed will be constructed to protect the structure and improve safety and comfort for both staff and clients.

Midwifery Officer at Sokode Lokoe Health Center, Savaina Agyei-Poku, highlighted the facility’s operational challenges. She said the maternity unit currently has only one ward, which doubles as a postnatal ward, an observation room for both male and female patients, and a detention area. She noted that this setup discourages women, especially nursing mothers, from seeking care.

Ms. Agyei-Poku also cited security and accommodation as major concerns. Although working hours were extended from eight to twelve hours, the facility cannot run 24-hour services due to the lack of security personnel and staff housing for midwives. She added that 70% of deliveries occur at night, making on-site accommodation for midwives essential.

She reported a sharp decline in service uptake this year. While OPD attendance was higher in 2024 than in 2025, and annual deliveries averaged between 30 and 50, only three deliveries have been recorded so far this year up to April. She attributed the drop to the ongoing challenges at the facility.

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