Patients, health workers, and residents within the Buluk traditional area are appealing to the Builsa North Municipal Assembly to urgently address the deteriorating road situation leading to the Builsa North Municipal Hospital in Sandema.
The hospital, which serves as one of the major referral facilities for communities across Buluk and surrounding areas, has become increasingly difficult to access, especially during the rainy season, due to deep potholes, stagnant rainwater, and muddy conditions along the road leading to its entrance.
For patients seeking medical attention, caregivers, and health workers reporting for duty, the journey into the hospital compound has become a daily struggle whenever it rains. Vehicles often have difficulty navigating the water-filled potholes, while pedestrians risk stepping into muddy areas and dirtying their clothes before reaching the facility.
The situation is particularly concerning because the hospital serves as a critical referral point for several health centres and Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds within the municipality. Any difficulty accessing the facility can affect emergency response, patient transfers, and the general delivery of healthcare services.
Hospital Entrance Becomes Difficult During Rainy Season
Residents say the challenge extends beyond the access road, with the front yard of the hospital also experiencing similar problems. After rainfall, portions of the hospital surroundings become flooded and muddy, making movement within the facility uncomfortable for patients, visitors, and staff.
Some residents who spoke about the issue expressed frustration that the problem has persisted for years despite repeated concerns from community members.
They noted that patients, including vulnerable persons seeking healthcare, should not have to struggle through muddy pathways before receiving medical attention at a major municipal hospital.
Dust Pollution Takes Over After Rains
While the rainy season creates problems with mud and stagnant water, the situation changes during the dry season, when dust becomes another major concern.
The untarred nature of the road means vehicles passing in front of the hospital generate large amounts of dust, which residents fear could affect patients, health workers, and visitors, especially those with respiratory conditions.
Residents argue that a healthcare facility should have a clean and accessible environment that supports healing rather than exposing patients and workers to additional discomfort.
Call for DRIP Machines Intervention
With the introduction of the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) machines across many districts in Ghana, residents of Buluk are calling on the Builsa North Municipal Assembly to prioritize the hospital road and use available resources to improve the condition.
They believe that even if a permanent road construction project cannot be undertaken immediately, grading the road and applying gravel materials could significantly improve accessibility and reduce the challenges faced during the rainy season.
According to residents, fixing the hospital road would not only benefit patients and health workers but also demonstrate the Assembly’s commitment to improving public infrastructure and healthcare delivery.
A Wider Road Challenge Across Buluk
The poor condition of roads is not limited to the hospital area. Several communities across Buluk continue to face similar challenges due to deteriorating roads, affecting transportation, business activities, education, and access to essential services.
However, residents believe that prioritising the road leading to the Builsa North Municipal Hospital would be a meaningful first step because of the facility’s importance to thousands of people.
As the rainy season continues, residents are questioning how long patients and health workers must continue to endure difficult access to one of the municipality’s most important institutions.
They are therefore appealing to the municipal authorities and relevant stakeholders to act swiftly to restore safe and reliable access to the hospital.
Image credit: Hope For Builsa
