Accra: Oxfam in Ghana has donated medical equipment, essential medicines, and health commodities valued at GHS1,497,928.66 to the Tamale Technical University (TaTU) Hospital to strengthen maternal, newborn, and sexual and reproductive healthcare delivery in the Northern Region. The donation includes delivery beds, maternity beds, autoclaves, neonatal resuscitation equipment, oxygen facilities, blood pressure monitors, newborn weighing scales, suction machines, delivery kits, essential medicines, and other medical supplies.
According to Ghana News Agency, the donation, part of Oxfam's Power to Choose (P2C) project, aims to improve access to quality, respectful, and inclusive healthcare services for adolescent girls, young women, and other vulnerable groups. As part of Oxfam's nearly GHS1.5 million investment in medical equipment, medicines, and health commodities for eight health facilities across the country, the initiative seeks to enhance maternal and reproductive healthcare services.
Mr. Mohammed Mahamud, Accountable Governance Programme and Policy Manager at Oxfam in Ghana, stated during the presentation in Tamale that the investment would improve the quality of healthcare delivery and contribute to better maternal and newborn health outcomes. He emphasized Oxfam's commitment to ensuring that women, adolescent girls, and young people have access to quality, respectful, and inclusive sexual and reproductive health services.
The Power to Choose project is a seven-year initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada through Oxfam Quebec and implemented in Ghana, Honduras, Bolivia, Lebanon, Jordan, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project, which began in April 2021 and will end in early 2028, targets young women, adolescent girls, young men, and adolescent boys between the ages of 10 and 24 to improve the enjoyment of health-related human rights among vulnerable and marginalized young people.
Mr. Mahamud highlighted that the project supports eight health facilities through partnerships with five Ghanaian civil society organizations: Norsaac, Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana, SEND Ghana, and Participatory Action for Rural Development Alternatives. Oxfam is also collaborating with the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Ghana, and other stakeholders to promote inclusive, gender-responsive, and accountable healthcare services.
The project has built the capacity of 102 healthcare workers across the beneficiary facilities through training and mentorship in youth-friendly healthcare, emergency obstetric and neonatal care, family planning, gender-based violence response, respectful maternity care, and inclusive service delivery. The training has helped create safe spaces where young women and girls can seek healthcare without fear of stigma, discrimination, or judgment. The equipment donation will further strengthen service delivery.
Mr. Mahamud expressed appreciation to the Government of Canada for funding the project and commended the Ghana Health Service, beneficiary health facilities, and partner organizations, particularly Norsaac, for their collaboration. He urged the management of the TaTU Hospital to ensure proper maintenance and effective utilization of the equipment to guarantee long-term benefits.
Dr. Chrysantus Kubio, Northern Regional Director of Health, who received the items on behalf of the hospital, described the donation as timely and said it would significantly improve maternal and newborn healthcare services and enhance the quality of care. Mr. Abdulai Imoro Gong, Sagnarigu Municipal Chief Executive, represented at the event, commended Oxfam and its partners for supporting efforts to bridge healthcare gaps in the municipality. He reaffirmed the Government's commitment to strengthening the country's healthcare system through the provision of modern medical equipment and other interventions to improve healthcare delivery.