As part of activities marking its 40th anniversary, BESSFA Rural Bank, located in the Garu district of the Upper East Region, has donated a fully refurbished and equipped theatre facility to the Presbyterian Health Centre.
The donation, worth GH¢130,000, forms part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility and community development efforts.
Prior to the donation, the Presbyterian Health Centre, a major referral health centre in the Garu district, struggled without an appropriate theatre for essential medical procedures.
As a result, expectant mothers in need of caesarean sections were often referred to health facilities in neighbouring districts, increasing the risk of maternal deaths and other complications due to delays and transportation challenges.
The Chief Executive Officer of BESSFA Rural Bank, Alhaji Hayatudeen Awudu Ibrahim, who handed over the theatre facility to the health centre, stated that the bank is dedicated to improving healthcare services in the region. According to Alhaji Awudu, the new theatre will significantly enhance the health centre’s capabilities, particularly in performing caesarean sections, a critical need in the area.
“When we received a request from the management of the institution, we thought there was no better way to invest back in our community. We believed that this contribution would touch the lives of many people and generations to come,” said Alhaji Awudu.
The Medical Lead at the Garu Presbyterian Health Centre, Emmanuel Jamal Mohammed, lamented that the protracted conflict in Bawku has overburdened the facility, as people seeking healthcare find it difficult to travel out of the district for care at the regional hospital in Bolgatanga through Bawku.
“Our facility has effectively become a referral centre, so we receive referrals from other smaller facilities. When that happens, we are forced to render certain services that under normal circumstances, we shouldn’t. Honestly, this theatre comes as a huge relief to us health workers and the district. We are deeply thankful to BESSFA Rural Bank for this invaluable support,” he stated.
On behalf of the Garu District Director of Health Services, John Avoka revealed that maternal deaths decreased from three in 2022 to one in 2023 and expressed hope that the theatre would help further reduce maternal deaths in the district.
The Board Chairman of BESSFA Rural Bank Limited, Cletus Azaabi, said the gesture not only celebrates the bank’s success but also its unwavering commitment to the health and prosperity of the communities it serves.
BESSFA Rural Bank Limited, established in 1983, has branches in Bawku and Pusiga in the Upper East Region, as well as in Nalerigu and Bunkpurugu in the North East Region.
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