The Have Health Centre in Afadzato South District, Volta Region, Ghana, is set to receive a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This development aims to improve neonatal healthcare delivery in the area. The NICU, facilitated by a philanthropist and lobbied by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Afadzato South, Mr. Frank Afriyie, will be the first of its kind in the district. It will provide specialized care for premature and critically ill newborns.
The NICU will be equipped with modern medical equipment, including incubators, phototherapy machines, and baby warmers. This facility will serve Afadzato South and surrounding districts, such as Kpando and Hohoe, reducing the need for referrals to the Ho Teaching Hospital. According to Mr. Afriyie, the project is not just an upgrade to the existing maternity ward but a dedicated intensive care facility for newborns requiring specialized care.
Construction of the NICU is currently underway at the Have Health Center. Contractors are on site, executing the project, and some medical equipment has already been delivered. A visit to the site by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on October 1, 2026, revealed workers undertaking construction works.
Residents of Have have welcomed the development, citing the long distances they previously had to travel to access emergency neonatal care. Mr. Raphael Kpodo, a resident, described the NICU as a major boost to healthcare delivery in the district. He noted that mothers and newborns often experienced complications during referrals to Ho for emergency care.
The Have Health Center serves over 15 communities and is being transformed into a major health facility to serve the growing population. Health officials at the center reported that neonatal cases accounted for a significant number of referrals. The NICU is expected to help reduce neonatal mortality in the district.
The MP, Mr. Afriyie, commended the philanthropist for supporting the project and called for continued collaboration to improve healthcare. He reaffirmed his commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure, including upgrading more CHPS compounds to health centers in the constituency.
Upon completion, the NICU will address long-standing challenges associated with neonatal deaths and birth complications in the area. Madam Esi Amegah, a resident, welcomed the development, citing the benefits it will bring to the community. The facility is expected to have a positive impact on healthcare delivery in Afadzato South and surrounding districts.
Key points
- The Have Health Center in Ghana's Volta Region to receive a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
- The facility will serve Afadzato South and surrounding districts, reducing referrals to the Ho Teaching Hospital.
- The project was facilitated by a philanthropist and lobbied by the Member of Parliament for Afadzato South, Mr. Frank Afriyie.
