The Shama District Health Directorate in the Western Region is grappling with a severe transportation challenge, as it currently relies on just one pickup vehicle to serve the entire municipality. Registered in 2019, the vehicle is being overstretched as it handles a wide range of critical healthcare duties including vaccine distribution, community outreach, and administrative functions.
According to District Health Director, Judith Naa Deide Okine, the situation is hampering effective service delivery, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach communities.
“This single vehicle is doing almost everything. It’s affecting our ability to reach communities on time, especially those in remote areas,” she explained.
With the only vehicle often unavailable, health personnel are forced to rely on motorbikes, a mode of transport Mrs. Okine says can be dangerous, especially on rough terrain. She recalled one occasion where she had to ride a motorbike to supervise health services while the pickup was leased to another outreach team.
The deteriorating state of the Shama Health Center has led the Directorate to adopt a community outreach strategy, bringing healthcare directly to residents. However, this approach is now under threat due to the lack of reliable transportation.
To address the crisis, a comprehensive proposal has been submitted to Emelia Arthur, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and Member of Parliament for Shama. Mrs. Okine expressed hope that the intervention will yield positive results.
Meanwhile, the Directorate is renewing its appeal to the government, NGOs, and other health stakeholders to urgently provide additional vehicles to enhance healthcare delivery and sustain outreach programs.