Residents of Kotokuom in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region have received a major boost in healthcare delivery following the donation of a brand new Voxy vehicle by the Kotokuom Youth for Development to the Kotokuom Health Centre to serve as an ambulance.
The initiative comes in response to long-standing challenges faced by the community, particularly in handling emergency cases.
Kotokuom, a mining community, has in recent years recorded several unfortunate incidents involving motor accidents and pregnant women in labour who required urgent referrals to bigger hospitals.
The lack of a reliable ambulance service has led to delays, contributing to the loss of lives.
The situation prompted the Kotokuom Health Centre to appeal to the Kotokuom Youth for Development for support, a request that has now been answered with the timely intervention.
Speaking during the launch of the group and the official handing over ceremony, the Kumasi Fankyenebra Queen Mother, Nana Akua Afriyie Owoabrempong, who chaired the programme, urged communities to take responsibility for their own development.
“Communities should take development into their own hands and not wait for government assistance,” she stated. “It is encouraging to see the youth come together for a common purpose. Instead of engaging in social vices that bring shame, they are pursuing development, which is highly commendable and worth emulating by other communities across Ghana.”
Dr. Stephen Baafi, a Physician Assistant at the Kotokuom Health Centre, emphasised the importance of the donation, describing past emergency situations as extremely challenging.
“Previous emergency situations have been dire due to the absence of an ambulance,” he said. “This gesture will help save lives, especially for patients in critical condition who require urgent referrals to bigger hospitals. We are grateful to the youth and assure them that the vehicle will be properly managed.”
Chairman of the Kotokuom Youth for Development, Abdul Raheem Fati, explained that the group was formed with the primary aim of driving development in the community.
“We came together to seek development for our community,” he noted. “This ambulance donation is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more initiatives we plan to undertake, including the establishment of a police station to address insecurity in the area.”
He further appealed to indigenes and well-to-do individuals from Kotokuom to support the group’s efforts.
“We are calling on all natives and individuals who have the means to come on board and support us so we can continue the development we have started,” he added.
Despite being only six months old, the Kotokuom Youth for Development has already made remarkable strides, including fixing street lights, reshaping poor road networks, and volunteering to enhance security in the community.
Their latest intervention is expected to significantly improve emergency healthcare delivery and bring hope to residents of Kotokuom and its surrounding communities.
By: Nana Yaw Owusu (0240782639)
