The Damongo Diocese of Catholic Church has cut Sod For the upgrading of the St. Joseph Health Center into a primary level hospital in the Kalba community of the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of Savannah Region.
The sod cutting was done by the Vicar General Rev. Fr Martin Mousayir on behalf of the Bishop of Damongo Diocese Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier on Wednesday 28th May, 2025 in Kalba at the premises of St. Joseph Health Center.
In a welcome address, the Diocesan Director for Health Service Mr. Aiden Ngmenbon said the upgrading of the St. Joseph Health Center to a primary level hospital in Kalba holds enormous promise for the local community and that it means access to more comprehensive, higher-quality healthcare services closer to homes, reducing cost of travel and travel time to higher level service delivery points saving precious lives.
Mr Aiden also added that the construction of the new hospital in Kalba brings an opportunity to their dedicated staff to serve with improved tools and infrastructure, thereby enhancing their capacity and moral.
“For our traditional authorities particularly our revered Kalbawura, who have long advocated for better health services, this development affairms that their voices have been heard”. Mr Aiden said.
The Damongo Diocesan Director of Health Service called on the central government through the DCE of Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, the MP, the Savannah Regional Minister and the Savannah Regional Health Director to continue its unwavering collaboration with the Catholic Diocese of Damongo to serve the needs of the people, not just in infrastructure but also in staffing, logistics, and operational financing.
The Diocesan Development Coordinator Rev. Fr Sylvester Kuubetersur in his speech said the Sod cutting is the beginning of the first phase of a three-year project, totaling over 7.2 million Ghana Cedis, the equivalent of over 415 thousand euros, when completed.
According to Fr. Sylvester these will include most of the essential infrastructure and equipment of the hospital.
The DCE for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District Hon. Saaka Sinkina who was present at the sod cutting commended the Diocesan Health Directorate of the Damongo Diocese for the initiative and said the upgrade will enhance access to quality healthcare, create employment opportunities, and stimulate economic growth.
The DCE for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District added that it is the mandate of the central government to provide affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare delivery to all citizens of the country, especially the deprived communities and u derprivileged children in the society.
According him, because government cannot do this alone, there are non-governmental organizations and supportive religious groups like the Catholic Church that compliments government in the delivery of quality healthcare to the people.
The Sawla-Tuna-Kalba DCE said as an assembly, they are committed in investing in quality healthcare delivery in the district as they have already constructed an OPD, a theater, supplied beds and mattress and a Doctor’s bungalow at Gindabour, an OPD at Tuna and procured two motorbikes to the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District Health Directorate.
The DCE promised that they will continue to support the healthcare needs of the people in the district.
