Bolgatanga: BasicNeeds Ghana, an advocacy non-governmental organization, has equipped vulnerable groups in the Bolgatanga Municipality and the Talensi District with knowledge on accessing government social protection programs to enhance their livelihoods and access vital services.
According to Ghana News Agency, the engagement was part of an interface meeting involving beneficiaries and key stakeholders, focusing on programs such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program, the three percent District Assembly Common Fund for Persons with Disabilities, and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Participants, including pregnant women, nursing mothers, women living with HIV, adolescent mothers, and survivors of gender-based violence, were briefed on eligibility criteria, application procedures, and available support under these programs.
This initiative is part of BasicNeeds Ghana's project titled 'Strengthening Community Systems to Enhance Integrated People-Centred HIV, TB, SRH and MHPSS for Vulnerable Women and Adolescents in Ghana.' The project is funded by Expertise France, an agency of the French Development Agency (AFD), and is being implemented in the Upper East Region in partnership with the Centre for People's Empowerment and Rights Initiatives (CPRI), and in collaboration with several governmental and non-governmental bodies.
Mr. Bernard Azuure, Programme Coordinator for BasicNeeds Ghana in the Upper East Region, stated that the engagement aimed to bridge the information gap between vulnerable groups and institutions responsible for implementing social protection programs. He emphasized the importance of direct interaction between beneficiaries and stakeholders to facilitate access to various social interventions.
Additionally, the project, now in its second year, spans seven regions and targets two districts per region. It aims to strengthen community systems to provide integrated, people-centered HIV, tuberculosis, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health and psychosocial support services, particularly during the perinatal and postpartum periods. The project also focuses on improving maternal and child health outcomes and addressing gender-based inequalities in healthcare access.
In the Upper East Region, the project is implemented in the Bolgatanga Municipality and Talensi District, covering selected communities and health facility catchment areas. Mr. Azuure mentioned plans to replicate the interface meeting in other regions to ensure widespread awareness among vulnerable women and adolescents about available social protection and health services.
Mr. John Theodore Azam, Head of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development at the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, noted that 1,128 households were previously benefiting from the LEAP program. He highlighted an ongoing reassessment exercise to enroll additional beneficiaries, with updated figures to be released following the exercise.
Mr. Azam explained that LEAP payments are designed to supplement the incomes of extremely vulnerable households, enabling them to meet basic needs. He encouraged civil society organizations, the media, and other stakeholders to intensify advocacy efforts to ensure awareness and access to social protection programs for vulnerable groups.
Mr. John Millim Nawomya, Talensi District Chief Executive, acknowledged the persistent barriers citizens face in accessing essential services despite governmental interventions. He commended BasicNeeds Ghana and its partners for enhancing access to social protection services for vulnerable groups.