The Member of Parliament for Bole and Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana has held a stakeholder engagement with management and staff of the Bole District Hospital, aimed at addressing challenges confronting healthcare delivery in the district.
The engagement, held on Monday, May 25, 2026, focused on maternal healthcare, staff welfare, accommodation challenges, blood shortages and community education.Speaking during the visit, the MP said the purpose of the engagement was to interact with doctors, nurses and other health workers, while encouraging them to continue providing quality healthcare services to the people of Bole.
According to him, some health workers had expressed intentions to seek transfers due to perceived threats and public criticisms following recent concerns over maternal health issues in the district.Mr. Sulemana appealed to the staff to remain committed to their duties, assuring them that criticisms and public concerns should not necessarily be viewed as attacks.“I am rendering an apology because the information I picked is that quite a number of you are threatening to leave.
I assured you that everywhere you go, there are such challenges, and since you have already understand the system here, we should work together to improve healthcare delivery,” he stated.As part of interventions to reduce maternal deaths in the municipality, the MP announced the establishment of an MP Maternal Distress Fund with a seed capital of GH¢100,000.
He explained that the fund would support pregnant women who are unable to access healthcare early due to financial difficulties.Mr. Sulemana noted that many maternal deaths occur because expectant mothers report late to health facilities, often due to lack of education and financial constraints.“This fund will take care of those who genuinely cannot afford medical care.
We will also intensify education for pregnant women to take antenatal attendance seriously,” he added.He disclosed that a three-member committee would be constituted to manage the fund and ensure transparency and accountability in its administration.
The MP further revealed plans to renovate some staff bungalows and complete an abandoned compound housing project to improve accommodation for health workers and encourage staff retention.He assured the hospital management that issues beyond the district level would be escalated to regional and national authorities for attention.
On blood shortages at the hospital, Mr. Sulemana expressed concern over the low turnout during blood donation exercises despite the facility administering about 1,614 units of blood last year.He disclosed plans to organise a major blood donation exercise in the municipality to improve the hospital’s blood bank.The MP also commended a resident, Aminu Jaja, for consistently donating blood voluntarily to save lives.According to him, the hospital management praised Aminu Jaja for his selfless contributions, indicating that in some emergency situations he donates blood without even being invited.To motivate voluntary blood donors, the MP proposed rewarding Aminu Jaja with a motorbike or equivalent support after consultations with the hospital management.“There is nothing wrong with donating blood to save lives. Young people should be encouraged to donate because it helps save lives and can also help individuals know their health status early,” he said.
Medical Superintendent of the Bole Municipal Hospital, Dr. Jonathan Abesig, described the engagement as timely and fruitful.He said the meeting became necessary following concerns about maternal healthcare outcomes and the need for stakeholder collaboration to improve healthcare delivery in the district.
Dr. Abesig praised the MP for his continuous support to the hospital, noting that beyond plans for a new district hospital, the current facility also requires urgent interventions to continue delivering quality services.He mentioned that the MP had already initiated support in areas such as borehole construction, orthopedic surgeries, and assistance with health insurance claims.
According to him, the GH¢100,000 Maternal Distress Fund would significantly reduce financial barriers that contribute to maternal deaths.“This money will be used for emergency maternal cases involving people who genuinely cannot afford treatment. If we remove the financial barrier and improve education for pregnant women to report early, then we can tackle the delays that contribute to maternal deaths,” Dr. Abesig explained.
He added that the hospital staff remain committed to improving healthcare services and expressed appreciation to the MP, the youth and the wider community for their support towards the hospital.
Source: nkilgifm.com
