Residents of the Wa East District in the Upper West Region say the lack of a polyclinic and a district hospital has gone beyond a development challenge, becoming a serious threat to daily survival—especially for pregnant women and critically ill patients.
Across the district, healthcare access remains severely constrained, with many communities depending on CHPS compounds that lack the capacity to manage complex medical cases.
In the absence of a polyclinic for intermediate care and a hospital for emergencies and admissions, patients are frequently referred outside the district—trips that are not only expensive but also often risky.
This healthcare gap is most evident in communities like Goripie, where residents report that delays in accessing treatment are worsening health conditions and outcomes.
Since its establishment in July 2004, the Wa East District in the Upper West Region has continued to face persistent healthcare delivery challenges, despite its large land size and growing population.
Spanning an estimated 4,240 square kilometers and home to about 103,000 people, the district remains one of the most deprived in terms of health infrastructure.
Although there are 37 CHPS compounds and 11 health centres across the district, these facilities are limited in scope and unable to provide comprehensive medical services.
More than two decades on, Wa East remains the only district in the Upper West Region without a functional hospital or polyclinic—an absence that continues to strain healthcare delivery.
Without these critical facilities, residents lack access to essential services such as diagnostic care, emergency stabilisation, and specialised outpatient treatment.
The situation is further worsened by the absence of a resident medical doctor, making Wa East the only district in the region without one.
Consequently, patients with severe or complicated conditions are often referred to facilities outside the district, particularly in the regional capital.
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