Bongo: Regentropfen University College (RUC) in the Bongo District has cut sod for the construction of a modern health centre in Namoo to improve healthcare delivery for students and surrounding communities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the facility, once completed, is expected to serve as a training hub for nursing students while providing healthcare services to residents of Namoo, Kansoe, and neighbouring communities, thereby reducing the burden of travelling long distances to access medical care.
The project forms part of the University's broader vision to position itself as a centre of excellence in health training and service delivery in the Upper East Region. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Erasmus K. Norviewu-Mortty, Registrar of the University, described the project as a significant milestone that would evolve beyond a basic health facility into a full-fledged hospital and potentially a teaching hospital in the future. 'We are not just gathered here for the sake of gathering; we are here to begin something transformative,' he said.
Professor Stephen B. Twum, Vice President of the University, noted that the health centre would serve as both a training hub for students and a provider of essential healthcare services to communities across the Bongo District and the Upper East Region. 'It is my prayer that in the next 10 to 20 years, we will return here to witness how this vision has grown into something greater,' he said, urging participants to appreciate their role in a historic moment.
Mr Saeed Junior Akannah, the project architect, stated that the facility had been designed as a compact but modern health centre with provisions for future expansion. The ground floor will house the Out-Patient Department (OPD), an emergency unit with consulting rooms, a maternity ward and delivery suite, as well as physiotherapy and mental health units. The first floor will accommodate male, female, and children's wards, while a theatre for surgical procedures will be included to support advanced care. The facility will also include a modern laboratory, administrative offices, a laundry unit, and a central ramp system to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Mr Akannah indicated that the health centre would have a capacity of at least 24 beds and would be supported by a well-designed ambulance access route and parking space to enhance emergency response. He added that the project could be completed within 12 to 16 months, subject to the availability of funding.
Mr Moses Atambire, Assembly Member for the area, expressed that the project would bring relief to residents who currently travel several kilometres to access healthcare services in neighbouring communities and districts. Naba Adongo Azubire, Chief of Kansoe, in a speech delivered on his behalf, commended the University for its commitment to development and pledged the support of the traditional council towards the successful completion of the project. The Chief noted that the facility would benefit not only the University but also the entire Kansoe community and beyond.