In the era of poor access to health and maternal care, some chiefs are introducing measures in their local communities to stem the tide.
Such is the story of Nana Boakye Yam Ababio, Chief of Nkwantakese in the Afigya Kwabre District of Ashanti Region, who has implemented a 'free transport scheme' for pregnant women in his community.
Nkwantakese, a community with a population of over 26,000 people rely on the only community health post in the area which was built by the Chief, Nana Boakye Yam Ababio.
The 'free transport scheme' offers pregnant women free transport services to Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, about one and half hour drive from Nkwantakese when they are due for delivery.
Prior to this initiative, easy access to health centre was a major challenge for pregnant women in the community; maternal death was a common phenomenon.
Nana Boakye Yam Ababio first met with all drivers in the community and succeeded in convincing them on the need to save the women from needles maternal deaths.
Nana then introduced a special contact book, containing a compilation of contact numbers of all vehicle drivers in the community. Presently, the only barrier between pregnant women and save delivery in the community is just a phone call as the Drivers are always on standby to answer and attend to the women. This unique initiative by Nana Boakye Yam Ababio has been the answer to the maternal deaths in the area.
Whereas Nana Boakye Yam Ababio’s background in public health may have influence on his special interest in championing this course, it is interesting to view him as a local leader with a broader developmental objective of eradicating maternal mortality, one of the most important global health challenge. Nana is the current Ashanti Regional Cold Chain Manager for Ghana Health Service (GHS),
Education in Nkwantakese
In the area education, the people of Nkwantakese under the leadership of Nana Boakye Yam Ababio are yearning for a Senior High School.
In the meantime, the chief in consultation with the community has instituted a compulsory extra classes for all basic school pupils in the community.
Students who fail to attend this extra classes are made to scrub the community’s toilets, as a punishment. In view of this, no pupil in the community want to miss the extra classes for any reason.
On the part of teachers, more than five bungalows have been provided to ensure that teachers do not reject posting to the area. That’s not all. The community has also instituted scholarship schemes for deserving students.
Despite this feat in education, Nkwantakese is without a Senior High School and this is a burning desire of Nana Boakye Yam Ababio and his people.
Among other reasons, a Senior High School would ensure that the future of the Nkwantakese in terms of continuous education for the youth is achieved.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa
