Dr. Thomas Anaba donates two pick-ups to boost healthcare delivery in Garu and Binduri

The Member of Parliament for Garu Constituency, Dr Thomas Anaba Awinsum, has secured two brand-new pickup vehicles for the Garu and Binduri Health Directorates to strengthen healthcare delivery across the Kusaug area.

The vehicles were presented to the two health directorates at a brief ceremony held at the Upper East Regional Health Directorate by Prof Samuel Kaba, Director General of the GHS.

Speaking at the event, Dr Anaba said the vehicles were secured through his lobbying of the Ministry of Health following persistent transportation challenges affecting health facilities, particularly those serving remote and deprived communities in Garu and Binduri.

He said the situation had been further compounded by the ongoing ban on motorbike riding within the Kusaug Traditional Area, making it more difficult for health workers to reach some communities and provide essential services.

“Through my lobbying, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, through the Ministry of Health, has donated two brand new Toyota pick-ups – one for Garu and one for Binduri – to facilitate movement and emergency referrals,” he said.

Dr Anaba explained that several health centres face difficulties referring critically ill patients to higher-level facilities because of inadequate access to vehicles.

As a result, some patients are transported on motorcycles and tricycles, a situation he described as unsafe and unacceptable, particularly during medical emergencies.

“The purpose of these vehicles is to improve emergency referrals and ensure that our people receive timely medical care,” he stated.

The Garu MP expressed appreciation to the Health Minister and the Ghana Health Service for supporting the initiative.

He urged the two beneficiary directorates to maintain the vehicles properly and ensure that they were used strictly for official purposes.

Dr Anaba also cautioned drivers against using the vehicles for personal activities and encouraged the directorates to make them available to support other districts in the Kusaug area that may require assistance.

Providing an update on the Agenda 111 hospital project in Garu, the MP said he was working with the Ministry of Health to ensure that the facility was completed on schedule.

He expressed optimism that the project would be ready for commissioning by President John Dramani Mahama in October.

Some residents who attended the ceremony commended Dr Anaba for securing the vehicles, describing the initiative as an important intervention that would improve access to healthcare in the area.

They also welcomed the government’s continued investment in critical sectors such as healthcare as part of efforts to improve living conditions and service delivery across the country.