BasicNeeds-Ghana donates GH‵700,000 equipment to 42 health facilities

BasicNeeds-Ghana, a non-governmental organization, has presented GH‵700,000 worth of equipment to 42 health facilities to enhance mental health and psychosocial support services. The project focuses on improving counselling environments for pregnant women, adolescent girls, and new mothers across six regions in Ghana. By strengthening these facilities, the initiative aims to provide essential care for women dealing with the psychological impacts of HIV, tuberculosis, and gender-based violence.

The distribution of resources covers 14 district hospitals and 28 sub-district health facilities, operating under both the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG). The equipment is intended to create dedicated, private spaces for counselling, which are often lacking in maternal health departments. According to Dr. Peter Badimak Yaro of BasicNeeds-Ghana, this integration is crucial for identifying mental health challenges early in pregnancy and during the postpartum period.

Parallel to the physical donations, the project has focused on building the capacity of the local healthcare workforce. A total of 1,304 healthcare workers have undergone specialized training to recognize and manage mental health conditions among maternal health patients. These trained professionals have already screened nearly 18,000 pregnant women and new mothers, ensuring that those requiring psychosocial support are directed to the appropriate services.

While the Ghana Health Service has expressed gratitude for the intervention and reaffirmed its commitment to mental health, Dr. Yaro urged the government to increase its own investment in the sector. He emphasized that mental health support must become a permanent and well-funded component of the national maternal healthcare framework to ensure the long-term well-being of mothers and children across the country.