Tamale N/R: BasicNeeds Ghana donates office equipment to health facilities in 14 Districts

BasicNeeds Ghana, in collaboration with various partners, has recently presented office equipment to 14 health facilities spread across six regions in Ghana. The primary objective of this donation, valued at 700,000 Ghana cedis, is to enhance mental health counseling services for women and girls in vulnerable situations. This initiative aims to improve the counseling environment for pregnant women, adolescent girls, and mothers recently delivered, particularly those dealing with HIV and tuberculosis.

Among the donated supplies are office furniture, fans, air conditioners, and foldable screens. These resources are intended to foster safer spaces for survivors of gender-based violence, providing them with more appropriate environments for counseling and psychosocial care. At the event in Tamale, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Professor Samuel A. Kaba, commended BasicNeeds Ghana and its partners for augmenting government efforts to improve healthcare delivery.

He emphasized the crucial role that civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations play in addressing healthcare gaps and enhancing the well-being of vulnerable groups. Professor Kaba highlighted that some women experience depression post-childbirth due to circumstances beyond their control, often receiving inadequate understanding or support from their families.

Consequently, he advocated for increased counseling and psychosocial assistance for these women to facilitate their recovery and reintegration into their families and communities. Dr. Peter Badimak Yaro, the Executive Director of BasicNeeds Ghana, stressed that mental health challenges can significantly impact sexual, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health.

He urged policymakers and stakeholders to intensify efforts to address mental health needs, particularly among pregnant women and adolescent girls. Dr. Yaro also underscored the importance of ensuring that women and girls who have suffered abuse have timely access to counseling and psychosocial support to aid them in coping with the emotional consequences of trauma.

The Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Chrysantus Kubio, acknowledged the persistent gaps in mental health service provision, particularly for women and adolescents. He urged the beneficiary districts to properly care for the donated equipment and maintain the counseling facilities to ensure their continued functionality and accessibility to those in need.

The 14 districts benefiting from this donation are located in the Northern, North East, Upper East, and Upper West regions of Ghana.