The United Citizens of Zongoiri (UCZ) is a group sons and daughters of Zongoire home and abroad whose aim is to turn around the developmental challenges of the area and improving upon the quality of life of the residents of the Zongoiri chiefdom.
In furtherance of this, the group donated medical items valued at Eleven Thousand Ghana Cedis to the main Health Centre of the chiefdom which covers three electoral areas. The items include, two (2) thermometer guns, three (3) hospital beds, ten (10) hospital bed mattresses, six (6) OPD chairs and five (5) wooden benches.
Hon. Thomas Akugri, assembly member for Zongoiri speaking on behalf of his two colleagues: Hon. Amos Alenbilla and Hon. Gideon Ayadago, assembly members for Dagunga and Apodabogo respectively promised to laisse with the group and other stakeholders as they strive to achieve the holistic development of Zongoiri.
Giving an overview of the Health Centre, Mr. Peter Amoro, the Medical Assistant in charge of the facility said it is under the Binaba Sub-district in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region and has a Medical Assistant, Midwife, two (2) staff nurses and two (2) community health nurses at post. According to him, the facility performed creditably and was recently adjudged the second best performing facility in the district. This notwithstanding however, the facility is faced with a number of challenges including inadequate staff accommodation, beds and network connectivity.
Formed barely five months ago and using the WhatsApp messaging application as its main communication tool, the group raised an amount of Eleven Thousand Ghana (GH¢11, 000.00).
Speaking on behalf of the group, Dr. Joseph Ayembilla highlighted the rationale for forming the group while stressing that it is nonpolitical. He paid glowing tributes to past and present leaders of the community. He renew calls for the Zongoiri Health Centre to be elevated to a district hospital status given a number of factors including population size and proximity to the District Hospital.
Dr. Ayembilla stated that the United Citizens of Zongoiri where committed to see initiate the construction of the hospital as they remain hopeful that the Ghana Health Service will meet them halfway. He made a passionate appeal to the chief and elders of Zongoiri to among other things release land for the construction of the hospital project while taking steps to safeguard the Health Centre from further encroachment.
Receiving the items, the Bawku West District Director of the Ghana Health Service, Mr. Lawal Alhassan expressed gratitude to the UCZ describing the gesture as unprecedented and a challenge to other communities. Mr. Lawal recounted the strides made to give the Zongoiri Health Centre a facelift citing the recent renovation works from the IGF of the Ghana Health Service. He lauded the staff for their commitment to serving the people.
Naba Asuguru Abugbabilla II, Chief of Zongoiri was proud of this community led initiative and to release land for the construction of the hospital project. He admonished his subjects to be each other’s keeper and desist from all forms of criminal activities noting that Zongoiri is peaceful and the focus of the people is development.
Dr. John Kingsley Kurugu, Hon. Stephen Baba Kumasi, Madam Victoria Aboyella and other prominent sons and daughters of Zongiri who graced the occasion charged the youth of the area to rise up and be counted.
