Dodo-Tamale, a Community that gets CHPS Compound Through (CHMC)

By Petrina Dery, Project Officer - Healthy Environment And Wellness

Dodo Tamale is one of 134 communities in the Kadjebi District of Ghana's Oti Region. The main crops grown here are cocoa, rice, maize and cassava. The lush, green landscape is particularly picturesque during the rainy season, with trees adorning the mountains, hills and valleys.

In 2015, the Dodo Tamale Community Health Management Committee (CHMC) was established with eight members (three women and five men). Initially, the committee was inactive due to a lack of proper coaching and mentorship. However, this changed when World Vision Ghana supported the District Health Directorate in training seven Community Health Management Committees, covering five Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) zones, with a total of 37 members (12 women and 25 men). The training focused on how the CHMCs function and their role in promoting quality health services. Each committee then developed an action plan to improve health services in their community.

The Dodo Tamale Community Health Management Committee was one of the beneficiaries of the CHMC training programme in March 2023. The committee's chairman, Seyram, shared his reflections on the training: 'This training has made me realise that there is a lot we can do to help our community. Initially, we relied solely on the District Assembly for support, but we barely received any. But now I know how to mobilise resources to improve healthcare in my community.'

Dodo Tamale previously lacked a health facility, with the nearest healthcare available in Pepesu, around 5 km away. This distance posed significant challenges, especially during emergencies and childbirth, often resulting in home deliveries.

The facility is currently staffed by two health workers, a Community Health Nurse and an Enrolled Nurse, who provide healthcare to around 1,860 people in the community (758 women, 612 men, 293 girls and 197 boys).

Ten-year-old Emeritina, a beneficiary, shared her joy: 'I am glad we have a health facility in our community now. Before, I had to travel long distances with my mum whenever I fell ill. Now, everything is on our doorstep — the health facility is just a few minutes away.' Thanks to this development, Emeritina and other children in the community can now enjoy good health and thrive, in line with World Vision Ghana's vision for every child.

The Community Health Committee (CHC) is a key component of World Vision Ghana's health projects. It aims to empower, coordinate and manage activities to strengthen community-based organisations, structures and networks, thereby improving community health. This process, known as 'community systems strengthening', has given thousands of people, including children, access to quality healthcare in communities such as Dodo Tamale.