The Damongo Constituency has indeed become the battle ground for the 2024 elections as far is Savannah region is concerned. This declaration was made by Hon Abu Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and MP for Damongo Constituency. The NDC and Hon Garlus have accepted the challenge but as much as possible, the NDC is making this battle an issue-based.
It is trite knowledge that when it comes to physical infrastructure and overall development of Damongo Constituency, Hon Abu Jinapor comes nowhere close to Hon Garlus. One of such areas in contribution to the health infrastructure. Few days back, Hon Jinapor commissioned a maternity room for the Laribanga Health Centre and the NPP have gone to the market with it as if that is the biggest thing that has happened to the people of Laribanga as far as health infrastructure is concerned.
For the records, these are the contributions of Hon Garlus to the health needs of the people of Laribanga:
- Upon assuming office in 2009 as the DCE of West Gonja, Hon Garlus in collaboration with Hon Sammy Wusah, built the first CHPS compound for Laribanga and this was commission in the first quarter of 2011. Before then, the people of Laribanga could only access healthcare in either Mole or Damongo even if a pregnant woman was due in the middle of the night.
- Under the Fufulso-Sawla road project, Laribanga was penciled to be given, but seeing that it wasn’t going to be useful for the people of Laribanga due to the fact that an existing market stalls were not in use, Hon Garlus lobbied the AfDB and the monitoring team for the road project to convert that into a furnished, standard health centre with additional nurses bungalows. This was heeded and the current heath centre and 2 nurses bungalows were constructed.
- Hon Garlus also constructed 2 additional nurses bungalows to make the bungalows 4 just so health personnel who are posted to Laribanga would stay and work instead of commuting between Laribanga and Damongo. In fact, a stationed midwife was posted to stay in Laribanga after this.
- Hon Garlus earlier to this has provided a long-range motorbike for the stationed officer to be for other related services when in need.
- In 2016, Hon Garlus purchased and supplied the first ambulance to the Laribanga health centre. Unfortunately, the NPP came to power and abandoned it when it broke down.
- Laribanga community was also prioritized in the distribution of anti-snake venom anytime Hon Garlus supplied them to the constituency to be used to treat victims of snakebites.
- He also ensured that a mechanized borehole was drilled at the health centre for the unfettered supply of water to the centre.
Today, the people of Laribanga do not need to transport a sick person to Damongo or anywhere to access healthcare, and that credit must be duly given to Hon Garlus. Nobody goes to build a maternity room for a non-existent health facility.
By Dramani Kipo Issahaku
(Meek Brown)
A health personnel and an NDC activist in Damongo.
Contact: 0542330417
