The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has disconnected power supply to Akyem Sankubenase CHPS compound in the Atiwa District of the Eastern region over Ghc4,500 debt.
The debt is about 10 months accumulated bills which the health facility has not been able to pay.
The disconnection was done a week ago by the Kade District branch of ECG plunging the health facility into total darkness despite government’s directive to ECG not to disconnect essential institutions which include health facilities.
The situation has compelled Nurses at the facility to keep essential drugs which requires refrigeration in refrigerator of the Chief of the town. Nurses use their phone lights to take care of sick patients who visit the facility for healthcare in the evening .
The Power cut also affected water supply to the CHPs Compound because the only water facility available depends on electricity to pump water into the reservoir which supplies the health facility.
Apart from these, nurses accommodated in the CHPS compound have no option than to sleep in darkness.
A Nurse at the facility tells Kasapa News Eastern regional Correspondent, Kojo Ansah, under anonymity that, the health facility is cash-strapped due to non payment of one year claims by the National Health Insurance Authority, (NHIA) hence the inability of the health facility to pay its bills.
She explained that, she explained the financial challenges to officials of ECG and pleaded with them to be considerate however, went on to disconnect the facility.
The Akyem Sankubenase Traditional Council worried by the development has raised about ghc2000 for part payment of the bill for power to be restored .
Linguist to the Chief of Sankubenase, Okyeame Yaw Asiedu tells Kasapa News, government must intervene to ensure that, grants due the health facility are provided to carry out administrative functions.
Information available to Kasapa News indicates that ECG officials are demanding a the health facility to pay more than half of the debt plus as penalty before power is restored.
However at press time, the Atiwa Health director and the traditional authority are reported to have begged the ECG officials at Kade district office to accept the part payment for restoration of power to the health facility which has been done.
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