Projects/Agents

Organisation Type:

Public Private Partnership

Description:

The Garu Presbyterian Health Centre is located in the heart of Garu Township, capital of the Garu-Tempane district of the Upper East Region of Ghana. Garu is as well the sub-district capital of the Garu sub-district. It shares common borders with the Woriyanga sub-district to the East, Songo sub-district to the West, Bugri sub-district and Bawku Municipal to the North and to the South it borders with the Worikambo sub-district. Being cosmopolitan in nature, it is habited mainly by ethnic groups such as the Kusasis being the mojority, Bimobas, Moshis and Bisas. Other minor ethnic groupings are the Hausas, Fulanis and Yorubas. Garu Health Centre is a service providing facility was established and managed by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) through the Presbyterian Health Service-North (PHS-N). It is one of the health facilities under the coordination of the Presbyterian Primary Health Care (PPHC), Bawku. Garu Health Centre was established and officially opened in 1975. The health centre currently serves as a referral centre for other health facilities and therefore acts as a referral point. The health centre serves a catchment population of about 16,828 as well as those of the surrounding sub-districts such as Songo, Bugri, Woriyanga, Worikambo and people from nearby communities of other districts including Binduri, Bawku Municipal and neighbouring districts from the Northern Region. The facility provides a wide range of services including the following: 1) General OPD 2) Basic eye care 3) Community psychiatry 4) Laboratory investigations 5) Voluntary counseling and testing for HIV for the 6) Reproductive and child health – antenatal including PMTCT, delivery, postnatal, immunization and family planning 7) 24 hour detention of seriously ill patients for observation 8) 24 hour ambulance service 9) Referral of patients 10) Health education and promotion 11) Tuberculosis screening and treatment

Mission:

“To provide Christian-centered, humane and sustainable basic health services, encompassing, preventive, promotive and curative care through community participation and in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and other stakeholders”.

This mission is based on the mission statement of the Presbyterian Health Services: “…to reach all manner of persons with the Good New s of Jesus Christ through comprehensive health care delivery services “and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them the kingdom of God is come nigh to you” (Luke 10:9)

Vision:

“Basic health services, which are community driven and accessible to all manner of persons”

Recent Accomplishments:

Community information center supported by ACDEP

A standby generator by government of Ghana

OPD clinic for eye unit

Good collaboration with traditional birth attendants, traditional medicine practitioners and community health volunteers through the use of mobile phone technology with support from ACDEP.

Quote:

“Heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them the kingdom of God is come nigh to you” (Luke 10:9)

Objectives:

Improve Maternal and Child Health Care

Control the incidence of Malaria, HIV/AIDS STI/TB transmission and other communicable diseases

To increase access to Clinical Care and other Public Health Interventions

To improve quality of care in Health Facilities

To improve Financial and Human Resource Mobilization

To improve efficiency at all levels of service delivery

To improve Collaboration and Networking

Partner Activities:

Holland friends of Bawku (building of part of facility and provision of some equipment)

ACDEP: (ICT, provision of computers, and supporting adolescent health programme, Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) and Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs)

Ghana Health Service (GHS) – Provision of staff for preventive services (e.g. Community Health Nurses, Disease Control Officers and Health Information Officers, etc), logistics and equipment.

World Vision – Support for in-service training, organization of durbars and supervision.

Activities

Title	Description	Status	Date
Distribution and Training Ceremony	In the week of 16 September 2013 ACDEP organised a Distribution & Training Ceremony whereby the mobile phones and the ambulances were officially handed over to the facilities.	Implementation	09/16/2013
Stakeholders Meeting MHealth	From the 8th to 12th of JulyACDEP traveled to the 5 member organization of ACDEP who are part of the health program.	Implementation	08/06/2013

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Organisation Type:

Regional NGO

Number of Staff :

Description:

Evangelical Presbyterian Development and Relief Agency (EPDRA-YENDI) is a Church based non-governmental organization located in the Western of Yendi Township on the Yendi –Tamale road in the Northern Region of Ghana. The idea of establishing the station was initiated when during the Evangelical Church Pastorial duties it was seen that the clients were resource- poor peasant farmers but with adequate human and material resources. Hence there was the need to raise their living standard side by side with evangelism. The station was established in 1958 by the American missionary, Rev.David Linington of the United Church Board for World Ministries, who was posted to the Yendi area by the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana to help spread Agriculture in the North. He started the station as a tractor service center, which was terminated and a Farm school; were young farmers were given one year practical and theoretical training in new farming methods and a goat project with imported milking goats to improve the milking capacity of the local breeds established in the early sixty’s. The Farm school and the goat project was also terminated in 1965, upon realizing that the trainees of the school after completion preferred taken up jobs in Ministry of food and Agriculture and not going back to the farms. The goats were also susceptible and rampant deaths were recorded. In that same year a survey was started to determine the areas of interest for the local farmers. The survey revealed that the interests in animal traction was not lost and the farmers wanted to see it revitalized along side with education on the correct use of fertilizers which they had seen with the introduction of Mechanized farming. Four bullocks were then purchased from the Pong-Tamale Animal Husbandry station to be trained on the station alongside the establishment of livestock and poultry. The Animal Traction Programme was introduced to the village in 1970 with the training of four farmers under the management of the first black manager of the station, Mr. Tom Ahima. In March, 1978, Mr. Tom Ahima resigned to establish his private farm. His place filled by Mr. Malex Alabikiya who has been on the station since 1976 with Mr. Sankari Sirvio, the fourth Cuso. The station continued the Animal traction and correct usage of fertilizer alongside poultry, animal farms and farming till 1994 when the Kokonba-Nanumba conflict came and interrupted the process and the station lost every thing. The station was revitalized in 2000 and was registered as Evangelical Presbyterian Development and Relief Agency (EPDRA-Yendi) to run as an NGO under the management of Mr. Joshua Nyaaba A. The station also registered as a member of the Association of Church Based NGOs ACDEP. Under this partnership with ACDEP the station currently run three projects, namely; Farmers in Agricultural production and Marketing (FAMAR) project, Sustainable Poverty Reduction in Northern Ghana (SPRING) and Local Innovation Support Fund (LISF). The administrative cost and General Extension work of the station is funded by ICCO. Today the station is operating in 29 farming communities in the Yendi municipality, with 48 FBO, six Livestock farming groups and 11 women groups under the micro credit scheme. The total number of beneficiary farmers stands at 1,200 and 25% being females. The staff capacity of the station is seven (7) including two security officers and the activities implemented are as shown below. Main Objectives: Enhance income levels of target beneficiaries through their involvement in enterprise development and alternative income generating activities Enhance capacity of communities to manage their environment and conserve natural resources for sustainable exploration Enhance the financial base of EPDRA through investment and other income generating activities Explore investment opportunities to sustain micro-credit scheme of EPDRA-Yendi Ensure professionalism through periodic staff capacity building and upgrading Promote sustainable agricultural development programmes through extension delivery services within target communities to enhance community food security Promote primary health care services within target communities Enhance gender mainstreaming in overall activities of EPDRA -Yendi Developing our internal capacity to manage disaster situation Activities: 1.Farmers in Agricultural Production and Marketing (FAMAR) Project: The activities center around organizing farmers into groups and facilitating them to become a viable and independent FBO, building their capacity to become increase production, link them to financial institutions for credit and Savanna Farmers Marketing company Limited to find fair market price for their produce 2. Animal traction: Under this, the farmers are trained and supported with pairs of bullocks, implements and accessories on hire purchase and they work and repay by instalment over three seasons and are revolved to another set of beneficiaries. The objective is to increase access of farmers to timely ploughing services and at reduced cost. 3.Climate change adaptation and sustainable farming practices: Sensitizes communities about climate change adaptation, support them to establish community woodlots and afforestation and also collaborate with Ghana Fire Service to train Fire Volunteer squats in the communities and support them to fight bush burning. 4.Extension support service: The station provide general extension to farmers in its operational area in the form of; farm visits, establishment of demonstration farms, field days and trips to teach farmers good agronomic practices 5.Micro credit support to women groups As a way of empowering the rural women and closing the access to resources gap between them and their male counter parts. The station micro-credit support to the some of the women in its operational area who are engaged in petty trading, shea-butter processing and groundnut oil extraction 6. Small Ruminant Support Livestock farmers are organized in to groups, build their capacities on good husbandry practices, support them to construct improved houses for their animals, collaborate with Ministry of Food and Agriculture to train lead farmers in the communities as Community Livestock Workers (CLWs) who provide basic treatment like de-worming, accaricdes bath, castration and wound treatment to support the veterinary services of MOFA) etc as required.

Mission:

The project main goal is to raise the living standards of the peasant farmer. And is this set to be achieved through the following objectives:- Teaching the farmers how to plough with bullocks, Provision of improved livestock to cross their local breeds; organizing and facilitating farmers to form co-operative groups to undertake economic ventures, linking farmer groups to financial institutions and marketing firms to acquire loans and sell their produce at fair market price, provision of extension support to farmers to increase production, and use of organic manure with special reference to animal dropping and composting. Another vital component of the station’s activities is sound environmental and sustainable agricultural practices.

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Organisation Type:

National NGO

Origins:

1 991

Description:

Until 1991, the Diocesan Health Office (DHO) operated independently of the Diocesan Development Office (DDO). Following the restructuring of the DDO, all development units including the Diocesan Health Office were brought under the DDO. This new arrangement, which is for administrative convenience, has brought some benefits to the DHO as it benefited from the expertise within the DDO. A Health Needs Assessment was carried out between 1992 and 1994 based on which a three-year Health Development Plan was implemented from 1996 to 1999.

Quote:

If you look at the provision of health service by the government, it doesn't reach everyone. So we are complementing what the government has not been able to do for the community. Everyone needs health.

Objectives:

The main objective of the Diocesan Health Office (DDO) is to provide high quality and accessible health care in the most effective, efficient, equitable and innovative manner, specific to the needs of the rural communities at a cost that is affordable.

Partner Activities:

Implementation of HIV/AIDS programme: A second year of implantation of an HIV/AIDS programme has completed. Activities included educational campaign, drama presentations in the communities, training of various categories of educators, reception and use of audio visual aid for education identification and care of people living with AIDS (PLAWA’s). The project coordinator with the help of some members of the Parish AIDS Committees (PAC’s), Youth Alive Clubs (YAC’s) and other interested person have identified people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Support services are given to victims free of charge. The impact of the HIV/AIDS Project has been acknowledged by the Bolgatanga District Assembly which has offered support for PLWA’s whilst ActionAid Ghana has also supported the project with funds to take care of the PLWA’s and orphans of AIDS victims.

Improvement on community participation and inter-sectoral collaboration: Officers of the DHO attend meetings and also participate in seminars organized by the Ministry of Health (MOH), Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), National Catholic Secretarial (NCS) and others to foster closer collaboration. Clinic Management Teams also work in close harmonious collaboration with the local population for the effective functioning of the health units.

Operation of a diocesan drug store: The operation of the Diocesan Drug Store has contributed to the smooth running health since essential drugs are always made readily available. All the units are allowed to purchase drugs and make reasonable payment later. Profits accruing from the sale of drugs in a unit are deposited in the Bank Account of the unit. The money is used for daily expenditure of the unit and the payment of their utility bills.

Provision of basic equipment and infrastructure: The DHO with the support of BEGECA secure equipment, which was distributed to all the clinics to facilitate their performance. The equipment included two major bikes for Kongo and Sirigu Clinics, whilst each clinic had a set of items like a baby weighing scale, pressure cooker, steel filing cabinet, bed/ward screen, vaccine carriers, etc. A KVIP latrine has been constructed at the Kongo Clinic where a borehole has also been mechanized as well as at Binde, Wiaga and Sirigu Clinics. Two more wards and a consulting room have been constructed in addition to two bungalows at the Wiaga Clinic whilst a theatre and two more wards are under construction at Binde Clinic. The equipment has enhanced quality care delivery and patients and clients appreciate it very much. From client satisfactory survey, the quality of care given from our institutions is equal to none.

School health programme: Most of the clinics have introduced School Health Programmes within their catchment areas as part of the promoting aspects of health delivery. During the visits, the school children are inspected for hair lice, ringworms, dental problems as well as eye and ear defects. Minor ailments are treated and dewormers are also administered whilst those that need further attention are referred to the hospitals. Health education is given on personal hygiene, dental hygiene, balanced diet etc.

Staff recruitment and training: Three religious Nursing Officers were posted to the Wiaga Clinic whilst a V.S.O. Medical Officer has also been posted to Binde Clinic now a hospital. A medical Assistant (MA) was seconded to the Kongo Clinic and a Midwife to the Wiaga Clinic by the Regional Director of Health Services in recognition of the contribution the DHO is making towards health delivery. As of now, two clinics are manned by Medical Officers and three other clinics by Medical Assistants. Four sponsored Nursing Students, who successfully completed their training at the Bawku Presbyterian Nurses’ Training College, had an intensive orientation and were posted to four Health Units to augment the staffing situation. Six other sponsored Nursing Students completed their training in November, 2002. More are still under training.

Strengthening the managerial capability of the health units and diocesan health office: Most of the Health Office Units are now well staffed with experienced employees. The Diocesan Health Office structure had been recognized by all the unit heads. The various District Health Management Teams (DHMT’s) and the District Assemblies also now recognize the DHO system.

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Organisation Type:

National NGO

Description:

Background: The Assemblies of God, Relief and Development Services (AGREDS) is a Church-based non-profit NGO that co-ordinates all the development and relief programmes of the Assemblies programmes of the Assemblies of God Church, Ghana Although the Assemblies of God Church had operated clinics in Northern Ghana since the late 1940s AGREDS was formerly incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on January 24, 1991, and subsequently registered as an NGO in April the same year. Since then AGREDS has played key roles in rural health delivery, the facilitation of integrated rural development as well as emergency relief and rehabilitation of victims of natural/man made disasters, ethnic and socio-political conflicts. The Northern Field Office in Tamale is responsible for projects/operations based in the three Northern Regions and Brong-Ahafo. Main Objectives: AGREDS seeks to minister to the material and social needs of the poor and under-privileged in society and to emphasize and ‘practicalize’ the truth of the biblical teaching concerning caring for the needy, alleviation of suffering social justice and stewardship of resources. Activities: Advocacy and Conflict Resolution: AGREDS, in carrying out its developmental programmes in deprived communities, advocacy and conflict resolution as very fundamental to any effective development. It has since 1994 been deeply involved in peace building initiative and conflict resolution programmes, all aimed at creating a peaceful atmosphere for effective development. AGREDS has championed the Rights of the Child over the years and is currently fighting the course of Street children, particularly “Kayayes” (Head Porters) through the Lifeline Street Children Project. Community Development: AGREDS community development programmes over the years have centred on infrastructural development, with emphasis on education health and sanitation. It has been involved in the construction and rehabilitation of school blocks at Langbensi, Bincheratanga, Kukpaligu and Makayili all in the Northern Region. AGREDS has also supplied books, teaching and other learning materials to schools to improve upon teaching and learning and thus increasing basic schools enrolment by over 150% in these communities. The Yendi Girls Vocational Institute, established in 1999, provides skills training in dress making/designing, broadloom weaving, food processing technology and sheabutter/groundnut Junior Secondary Schools and other levels. There Satellite Centres have been established in Zabzugu, Bimbilla and Gushiegu and are making a great impact on the lives of many girls in these areas. The Institute has turned out over 100 girls, most of whom are now in gainful self-employment in their various communities. Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation: AGREDS was responsible for the distribution of food and other relief items to over 180,000 internally displaced persons in the 1994 Northern Ethnic Conflict rehabilitation process, over 500 yam farmers in six communities in the Zabzugu/Tatale and Yendi Districts are being supported under the seed yam support programme. This is to help the farmers to regain their pre-conflict production levels. AGREDS is currently hosting the secretariat of the Inter-NGO Consortium, an umbrella organization of all NGOS (local and international) operating in the areas of emergency relief and rehabilitation in Ghana. Health Services: Provide community-based Preventive and Curative Health Care in 113 Outreach Communities in two districts. Preventive Health Care include health education (working in partnership with communities to have healthy and self-reliant individuals), TBAs and VHCs training, Maternal and Child Health Services and Outreach Clinics. The Saboba Hospital is responsible for the curative aspect of the health services delivery, and serves as the Secondary Referral Centre for the Saboba/Chereponi District. The services extend to the Zabzuzugu. Tatale and Nanumba Districts as well as some communities in neighbouring Togo. In the heat of the 1994 ethnic conflict when the entire Saboba/Chereponi District was cut off from the rest of the Northern Region, the Saboba Hospital remained opened with its full complement of staff to provide medicare to the many internally displaced persons. The Nankpaduri Health Centre caters for the health needs of communities in the Nankpandure, Bimbagu and Naswan Zone, reaching out even to communities down the Gambaga scarp such as Worikambo and Denigu in the UER. HIV/AIDS Awareness Education: The programme, initiated in 1999, focuses on awareness education among the youth, other identifiable bodies in the Church and the target communities. AGREDS is also supporting an Association of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) financially, morally and spiritually to live positively with the disease, with emphasis on abstinence (for singles and married couples). AGREDS is providing skills training on techniques for effective and Biblically balanced HIV/AIDS counseling for Pastors, Counselors, other church leaders and workers, with emphasis on support and care for people infected and affected by the disease.

Mission:

“Working with communities in partnership with other like-minded agencies in the love of God to find sustainable solutions to hunger, poverty, illiteracy, exploitation and disease.”

Vision:

“Empowered Ghanaian Communities managing their resources as stewards of God’s creation”

Recent Accomplishments:

Through organization of extra classes, in-service training for school teachers, PTAs, SMCs and supply of TLMs to program schools contributed to 100% students pass rate in the BECE exams results released this year in respect of 3 JHS supported by program (All 177 students who wrote the exams got placement in SHS at carious places within the region: Dakpa-71, Pusuga-59 and Nasamba-47) against 90% pass rate last year) 2. Assisted two students from Pusuga to complete EP College of education and are currently teaching in addition to two (2) student from Binda one of which will be completing this year and the other next year through school fees support. 3. The introduction of the Learning Through (LTP) approach in 8 program communities led to an increase in promotion of child protection issues: Parents and caregivers are aware and assist in promoting child rights by making sure the right environments are created for children to play, learn and be attended to. 4. The introduction of the LTP approach has also led to the enhancement of family life. Relationships between husbands and wives have improved- According to the Wife beating by husbands at will has reduced in programme communities. According to the women; “Our husbands are now very understanding and supportive. They take us or support us to go for antenatal and weighing sessions” 5. With the supply of food items to ECD centers as part of the school feeding program, school enrolment in program ECD centers have increased from 920 t0 1102. This further enhanced school retention as children at ECD stay in school rather than going home to get food to eat after break and certain times stay back at home instead of returning to school. 6. Saboba Medical Centre in 2011 succeeded in reducing Maternal deaths to 0. 7. The Lifeline program has trained, equipped and successfully reintegrated 1,211 girls into communities of their choice. 8. 908 (75%) of reintegrated girls are in full employment and supporting their families. 9. Increased collaboration with the Ghana Police Service-Anti Human Trafficking Unit and other agencies resulted in the rescue and placement of children in school and transfer of others to countries of origin. 10. Increased the number of teacher accommodation apartments from one (1) to 15 apartments thereby attracting 17 additional primary and JHS teachers to programme partner schools in Tongo-Beo, Nangodi, Ugando, Saboba and Langbinsi. 11. Increased the number of classroom in programme schools from 23 to 47 with an increase in enrolment by 30% in Lagbinsi, Langbina, Gbani and Zogiligu primary schools and Nangodi, langbinsi and Nanjong # 1 JHSs. 12. Improved access to clean water by pupils in four programme schools in Langbinsi, Langbina and Tongo-Beo primary schools and Nanjong # 1 JHS. 13. Over 4000 pupils in13 programme schools practice hand washing in school 14. Community participation in local school support and management improved as community members initiate and use local material to construct houses for teachers, carry out minor repair works on school buildings, weeding around and keeping the school environment clean etc. 15. Programme JHS schools continue to emerge as best performing schools in their districts – Bunkprugu/yunyoo and Gabaga districts. Nakpanduri AG JHS for the period 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 recorded the best grades during the BECE examinations in the districts. 16. Community Leaders are now more able to strategically lobby GES and the District Assemblies for specific development projects which they consider to be their right. 17. Reported increase in the number of parents and guardians of programme schools who are getting more interested in their children performance as they link up with community school teachers to know more about the performance of their children. 18. Programme communities continue to increase number of meetings organized to address basic education challenges locally.

Quote:

Transforming communities through partnership.

Partner Activities:

Community Infrastructure Programme. The main objective is to contribute to the improvement of livelihoods of rural communities of five marginalized districts in rural Northern Ghana in the area of basic quality education, with the goal of contributing towards the achievement of education for all in Ghana (MDG 1). In an attempt to contribute towards this goal, AGREDS Basic Education Support Programme is working with stakeholders to achieve improvement in access, quality and policy influencing in basic education through the provision of physical infrastructure, capacity building for classroom teachers and School Management Committees/Parent Teacher Associations (SMC/PTA’s). Other cross-cutting issues such as water, sanitation and hygiene, promotion of girl-child education and HIV/AIDS are integrated in the programme. b. Health Services. AGREDS runs two hospitals and one Health Centre in the Northern Region. All these health facilities focuses on Preventive and Curative services to their catchment districts and communities through the provision of 24-hour services, community based health education, maternal and child health services and outreach clinics. The Curative aspects of our health service delivery include the operation of a 90 bed capacity hospital in Saboba, which also serves as a referral center for the Saboba District, as well as neighboring parts of other districts. Approximately 10-20% of our patients come from western Togo; in addition, we attract surgical patients from the northern part of Volta Region, Brong Ahafo, and Ashanti Region. We serve as the district hospital for the Saboba District, and also get many patients from the Chereponi District, since Chereponi currently has only a polyclinic, not a district hospital. The Nakpanduri Health center is AGREDS’s second health facility established in the 1950’s by the Assemblies of God church. It is a busy clinic that provides the curative health care needs of communities in the Nakpanduri, Bimbaagu and Naswan zone. c. Anti- Child Trafficking programmes ( Life Line Programme) The programme tackles the issue of child labour/ trafficking with two prolonged protection and preventive strategies. The protection entails providing basic care, employable skills training through rehabilitation and reintegrate trafficked victims. Whilst the preventive aims at promoting early childhood development of vulnerable children, awareness creation, community mobilisation and policy influencing. d. Emergency Relief and Livelihoods Enhancements Programme. In partnership with UNHCR and UNIDO AGREDS is working with Liberian and Ivorian refugees across all the five refugee camps in Ghana situated in Ampain, Krisan, Buduburam, Egyeikrom and Fetentaa in the Western, Central and Brong-Ahafo regions respectively through the provision of skills training to improve the livelihoods of refugees. AGREDS also continues to play a leading role in emergency relief and rehabilitation operations throughout the country and consequently currently hosts the Secretariat of the Inter-NGO consortium for Relief and Rehabilitation, an umbrella organisation of NGOs focusing in relief and rehabilitation in times of disaster. e. Child Sponsorship and Family Support Programme. The programme operational areas are Yendi, Nanumba North and South Districts respectively. The major intervention areas of the program are: Child sponsorship, Strengthening Community Organizations (SCO), Education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Health and Nutrition and Sustainable Livelihood Development (SLD). f. Advocacy and Conflict Resolution AGREDS, in carrying out its developmental programmes in deprived communities considers advocacy and conflict resolution as very fundamental to any effective development. The rights of the child has been one major area that AGREDS has championed over the years and is currently championing the course of child trafficking and the worst forms of child labour through the Lifeline programme. Since 1994, AGREDS has been deeply involved in various kinds of peace building initiatives and conflict resolution programmes, all aimed at creating a peaceful atmosphere for effective development. A series of peacebuilding workshops have been held in partnership with WANEP and other partners in parts of the Northern and Upper East regions that were affected by the 1994 ethnic conflict. AGREDS also facilitated peace talks between the warring factions in both Bawku and Dagbong that led in the signing of a peace pact at Damango, now known as the Damango Declaration.

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