Ajumako Baa Salvation Army Polyclinic touching lives
The Ajumako Baa Salvation Army Polyclinic is more than just a health centre providing health care for the people of Ajumako Baa and its surrounding communities.
The polyclinic has supported the training of about 80 young women in vocational skills over the past few years.
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The hospital enrolls the young women in vocational training, particularly sewing and ensures they stay in and complete the training.
Last month, the fourth batch of the polyclinic’s vocational training programme students graduated after 18 months of training in sewing.
The occasion was also used to induct the 5th batch of 20 trainees.
The administrator of the facility, Mr Samuel Abaidoo explained that the facility was committed to bettering the lives of the people in the communities the hospital served.
The problem
He indicated that it was apparent that many of the young women in the communities they served were not skilled and this led to a lot of problems that eventually worsened efforts at ensuring enhanced and healthy lifestyles for the people.
"The young ladies for instances were getting pregnant because they were ready to have sex with the men to make ends meet. We saw a lot of teenage pregnancies and this was worrying for us.
Eventually because these mothers were not working they could not also adequately cater for the children leading to child malnutrition and other health issues. We decided to do something about the situation," he explained.
Mr Abaidoo said the fourth batch brings to 80, the total number of women trained.
Mr Abaidoo explained that the facility started as a charity organisation and most of their services were free of charge.
However, he said, it had been difficult sustaining the "free" thing.
He said because of this not much investment was made in infrastructure development.
Baa Salvation Army Health Centre was established in 1961 in a rented house by one Nancy Watts to cater for the health needs of the people in the community. It was mainly a Child Care Training Centre, catering for the nutritional and health needs of children in the whole of the Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam district and its neighboring districts.
After eighteen years of operation at Baa, the clinic was temporarily moved to Ochiso after which a permanent structure was then built and relocated to Baa as a clinic and a baby home.
It begun with ten staff but currently has seventy-seven staff, providing services in general Outpatient Department, maternity services, adolescent health reproductive services, Family Planning, Child Welfare Clinic, school health, home community visits, nutrition, safemotherhood, referral, Accident and emergency services, psychiatry and ophthalmology.
Challenges
Mr Abaidoo said the polyclinic needed a well-equipped theatre, saying the theatre was there but they needed equipment to make it a functioning theatre where minor surgeries could be undertaken.
Mr Abaidoo also noted that there were inadequate beds at the facility.
“We don’t have a single bed for children so the children are using adult beds at the children ward," he said.
He noted that staff accommodation was also a problem saying the midwives' quarters for instance was in a deplorable state.
He appealed for support from corporate institutions for the expansion of its facilities, adding that the facility could do a lot more if given the needed support and with the right equipment and infrastructure.
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He appealed for an ambulance to supports the facilities emergency services.
Mr Ababio also called on the district assembly to honour its promise to support them with some roofing sheets.
The Minister in charge of the Salvation Army church in the area, Col Samuel Amponsah urged the graduating students not to be complacent but to work hard to better their lives.
He further advised them to be creative and innovative and adopt a business sense to help them excel at what they do.
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Beneficiaries grateful
Some of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Salvation Army church and the health facility for the support and for helping them gain employable skills.
Ms Jennifer Baidoo, a beneficiary, said "many of my friends who haven't acquired skills yet are married with kids are suffering to make ends meet.
Ms Paulina Enchill, another beneficiary said she was grateful for the support.
"I can earn enough to take good care of my self and families," she stated.
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Social welfare
The Social Welfare officer for Ajumako Enyan Essiam,Mrs Abena Serwah Opare commended the polyclinic's management for the gesture saying the beneficiaries would impact their families and communities positively.
She advised them to be honest in their work to attract the needed clients.