The Member of Parliament for Salaga North, Alhassan Mumuni, has called on the Ministry of Health to prioritize the completion of the stalled Agenda 111 hospital at Kpalbe in the North East Gonja District of the Savannah Region. The MP made this appeal after conducting an inspection tour of the project. He expressed concern that the absence of a district hospital forces residents to travel outside the district for medical care, highlighting the need for a local healthcare facility.
The Salaga North MP noted that patients in the district are currently referred to Tamale and Salaga for healthcare services. He urged Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh to include the Kpalbe facility among the Agenda 111 hospitals earmarked for early completion. This, he believes, would significantly improve access to healthcare for residents in the area. The Minister had announced plans to complete ten Agenda 111 hospitals by the end of 2026, targeting facilities nearing completion.
Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh had also assured Parliament that at least one project in each region would be considered for early completion. The MP appealed for the North East Gonja facility to benefit from this arrangement. He expressed optimism about the work already undertaken but emphasized the need to complete the project to benefit the local population. The MP's inspection was part of his oversight responsibility to monitor ongoing and abandoned projects in his constituency.
The district currently lacks a resident doctor due to inadequate facilities and accommodation to support the posting of medical personnel. The MP believes that completing the hospital would strengthen primary healthcare delivery and support maternal healthcare interventions. He questioned the strategy of spreading resources across numerous hospital projects without ensuring some were completed and operational.
The MP suggested that a more focused allocation of funding could have delivered at least 30 functioning hospitals for communities, rather than leaving several projects unfinished. He emphasized that completing the hospital remains a priority for the people of North East Gonja. The Agenda 111 hospital project is part of a broader initiative to improve healthcare infrastructure across Ghana.
The Salaga North MP's appeal highlights the challenges faced by communities in accessing healthcare services due to inadequate infrastructure. The completion of the hospital would address the healthcare needs of the local population and reduce the burden on referral hospitals in Tamale and Salaga. The project is also expected to create jobs and stimulate economic growth in the area.
The Ministry of Health has been urged to consider the Salaga North MP's appeal and prioritize the completion of the stalled Agenda 111 hospital at Kpalbe. The project's completion would be a significant step towards achieving the government's goal of improving healthcare outcomes in Ghana. The MP's efforts to advocate for the project's completion demonstrate his commitment to serving the needs of his constituents.
Key points
- The completion of the Agenda 111 hospital at Kpalbe would improve access to healthcare services for residents in the North East Gonja District.
