Catholic Relief Services (CRS), through its HOPE-MCH Project, has renovated and expanded the National Ambulance Service (NAS) office in Tongo in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region to strengthen emergency healthcare delivery.
The facility was officially handed over to the National Ambulance Service at a ceremony attended by representatives of CRS-Ghana, the National Ambulance Service, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Talensi District Assembly, traditional leaders, development partners, the media, and other stakeholders.
The intervention forms part of efforts under the HOPE-MCH Project to improve the wellbeing of women, newborns, and children by strengthening health services at the family, community, health facility, and health-system levels.
According to the Talensi District Assembly, the support for ambulance infrastructure across six districts, including Talensi, goes beyond the physical renovation of an office, as it is intended to strengthen systems that facilitate timely emergency referrals and transportation, particularly for women, newborns, and children requiring urgent medical attention.
The Assembly expressed appreciation to CRS and its partners for the investment, describing the renovated facility as an important contribution to improving the operational environment from which emergency ambulance services will be coordinated and delivered.
The Talensi District Assembly disclosed that the district had faced significant challenges with its emergency ambulance service, with the district ambulance remaining off the road for more than two years.
The situation, according to the Assembly, significantly affected the district’s emergency response capacity.Recognising the critical nature of the situation, the Assembly mobilised resources outside its traditional sources to procure a new engine and other essential parts needed to restore the ambulance to service.
The Assembly also acknowledged the contribution of Unity Mining Group, which supported efforts to revive the district’s ambulance service.
The District Assembly said the renovation of the NAS office by CRS and its partners, together with efforts to restore the ambulance, would help improve emergency healthcare delivery in the district.
MP Supports Facility with Water Infrastructure
The Assembly also commended the Member of Parliament for the Talensi Constituency, Daniel Dung Mahama, for his contribution to the facility through the drilling and mechanisation of a borehole and the provision of a water tank to supply water to the renovated National Ambulance Service office.
The Assembly described access to water as fundamental to the functionality and sustainability of any public facility, saying the intervention complemented the renovation project and demonstrated the importance of collaboration between the District Assembly, Parliament, and development partners.
The Assembly expressed its profound appreciation to CRS for what it described as a valuable partnership with the district.
Call for Sustained Collaboration
Stakeholders at the ceremony stressed the need for continued collaboration among the National Ambulance Service, CRS, the Ghana Health Service, Parliament, traditional authorities, and other development partners to further strengthen emergency healthcare services.
The District Assembly noted that sustainable development is achieved when institutions and partners work together around a common purpose and contribute within their respective capacities to address development challenges.
The Assembly further urged the National Ambulance Service staff to take ownership of the facility and maintain it to the standard for which the investment was made.
It also encouraged the staff of the ambulance service to take advantage of the improved working environment to provide effective and timely emergency services to the people of Talensi.
The Assembly said the partnership between the various stakeholders should mark the beginning of stronger collaboration aimed at improving emergency response and ensuring better health outcomes for residents.
“Development is not simply about delivering projects; it is about strengthening institutions, improving systems, and creating conditions that enable communities to access essential services with dignity and efficiency,” the Assembly stated.
The handover of the renovated facility therefore marks an important milestone in efforts to improve emergency referral and ambulance services in Talensi and contribute to better healthcare outcomes for women, children, families, and the wider population of the district.
By Tanko Mohammed Rabiu
