Member of Parliament for Sawla- Tuna-Kalba constituency, Hon. Andrew Dari Chiwitey, has appealed for support for his constituents at Kalba after a rainstorm ripped off the only health center in the area and also displaced hundreds of residents.
He wants the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to as a matter of urgency support in bringing the back the health center into full operations after it was heavily hit by the rainstorm.
The Saturday late evening downpour in the community was accompanied by strong winds that caused extensive damage to property running into several thousands cedis.
At least 3 children were injured and buildings were destroyed in the 20- minutes rainstorm.
Even though the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has been to the community to undertake an assessment, the Legislator says the affected residents will need some support towards their recovery and not the usual giving of plastics bowls by the Organization.
In an interview with Yagbon News, the MP and the District Director of Health, Mr Abubukari Alhasaan, who were at the community to ascertain the extent of damage caused by the rainstorm, the MP said initial assessment reveals over 70 homes have been hit severely.
“It is such a disaster that our community has never known. The only health facility serving over 60 communities and beyond has been completely ripped off. People homes have been badly affected. We are looking forward to any form of support from the Government especially NADMO,” he appealed.
The MP said he is in touch with the District Director of Health, the in-charge of the facility and the Damongo Catholic Diocese to fast-track support for the re-roofing of the health center so that quality health can be delivered to the people.
According to him, he has some small money in his NHIS accounts which he will quickly mobilize to assist in the rebuilding of the health center.
“I am really saddened by the extent of damage caused by the disaster and I urged NADMO to support because my people are broken”, the MP stated.
The District Director of Health Mr Alhassan Abubakari, described the situation as worrying as it is the only facility in area with special treatment facilities.
He appealed to the Catholic Secretariat and other benevolent organizations aside the MP’s support to come to the aid of the facility.
The in-charge of the Kalba health center, Mr George Sobiitey Karachiitey, said the incident has distracted the smooth operations of the facility.
He said despite the effect on community members by the rainstorm, they will find time to fix the maternity ward for temporal use.
According to him, the existence of private health facility in the area is not enough to provide health enough heath care because they refer cases to the Kalba health center facility and added that people who live here are poor and cannot afford to travel 70km to access health in Sawla and Tuna and hence this health center needs to be fixed urgently, Mr George stated.
Background.
Three children have been injured with many others rendered homeless after a rainstorm hit Kalba in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region.
The injured persons have since been treated and discharged at the Kalba health centre which was badly hit by the rainstorm.
The rainstorm which occurred on Saturday evening destroyed houses, stores, the roof of the OPD of the health center among others, according to the residents.
Checks by Yagbon News indicate some of the victims were currently perching with family and friends while others were have sought refuge in church buildings.
Some of the victims who spoke to Yagbon News said they have lost virtually all their belongings to the disaster and were now surviving on the benevolence of family and friends.
Source: yagbonradioonline
