One of the major challenges confronting efficient health service delivery when it comes to maternal and infant health in the region is means of transport to convey the sick to health facilities.  

The tricycles are to be used by Community-based Health and Planning Services (CHPS) Compounds in the Kassena Nankana Municipal, Binduri, Nabdam and Bongo Districts. 

Mr Evans Kevi, the Programme Coordinator of the Swiss Red Cross, in charge of Health and Social Development, said a baseline survey conducted by his outfit revealed that one of the major challenges confronting maternal and infant health was lack of means of transport to convey women in labour to health facilities to access health care.

He said based on that survey, the GRCS in collaboration with the Swiss Red Cross piloted one tricycle ambulance service in the Binduri District in 2015 and this was able to contribute to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality in the area.

Handing over the tricycle ambulances to the District Directors of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) of the beneficiary Districts in Bolgatanga, Mr Joseph Abarike, the Upper East Regional Manager of the GRCS, commended the Regional Health Directorate of the GHS for providing technical support to the GRCS in the Region.

He said through that support 250 Red Cross Mothers’ Clubs had been formed in its operational areas in the four Districts.

Mr Abarike said through the Mothers’ Clubs, women had been empowered to undertake Health Education on maternal and infant care and pregnant women encouraged to attend health facilities for supervised delivery as well as to access ante-natal and post-natal care. 

Ms Meire Seidu, the Acting District Director of the GHS of the Nabdam District, on behalf of her colleagues thanked the two institutions for the donation and said the items would be of much help.