AGAMAL Organizes Pre-Season Stakeholders’ Review Meeting Ahead of IRS Campaign in Builsa Traditional Area

AngloGold Ashanti (Ghana) Malaria Control (AGAMAL) has announced that its annual Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) exercise in the Builsa traditional area will run from April 27 to July 10, 2026, under the theme “Small Action, Big Impact for Malaria Elimination.”

The announcement was made during a pre-season stakeholders’ engagement held at the Azenero Social Centre on Friday, April 24, 2026.

AGAMAL plans to cover 89 communities in Builsa North and 58 communities in Builsa South, targeting a total of 6,893 structures across the traditional area.

The Area Operations Manager, Mr. Gabriel Naab, explained that the insecticides to be used are odourless, stainless, and have an efficacy period of up to nine months. He noted that the chemicals are pre-qualified by the World Health Organization and are effective in reducing malaria vectors, thereby lowering malaria incidence.

Mr. Naab urged stakeholders to act as ambassadors of the programme by promoting it at every opportunity, encouraging community ownership, and viewing it as a social intervention rather than a profit-making venture. He also stressed the need to dissociate the programme from political affiliations and called for support during field challenges, adding that “IRS truly works and we are the only people who can tell the story.”

The Municipal Malaria Focal Person, Mr. Hagan Bomasaang, stated that since the inception of AGAMAL operations in the municipality, malaria incidence has significantly reduced. He called on stakeholders and community members to fully embrace the IRS programme, emphasizing that the fight against malaria is a collective responsibility.

The meeting brought together stakeholders from the Ghana Health Service, traditional authorities, security agencies, and other partners.

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Visionary Buluk Donates Marker Boards and 1,200 Markers to Ayieta JHS.

Visionary Buluk, a non-profit organization operating in the Builsa traditional area, has donated and installed marker boards in four classrooms at Ayieta Junior High School, along with 1,200 pieces of markers to support teaching and learning.

Presenting the items, the Chief Executive Officer of Visionary Buluk, Mr. Ernest Alaazy, expressed appreciation to the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the staff of Ayieta JHS for allowing the organization to use the school’s classrooms for its free extra classes programme for SHS 1 and 2 students, which began on March 16, 2026. He encouraged students to take their studies seriously, noting that both parents and organizations like Visionary Buluk are committed to supporting their academic success.

The Municipal Director of Education, Mr. Gariba Johnson, commended Visionary Buluk for organizing the free classes and for donating teaching and learning materials to the school. He urged other individuals and organizations to emulate the gesture, emphasizing that education is a shared responsibility.

The Assistant Headteacher of Ayieta JHS, Mr. Baba Salifu, also known as “Padeewa,” expressed gratitude to Visionary Buluk and assured that the items would be properly maintained and used effectively to enhance teaching and learning.

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Team of Hope Attends to 213 Cases on Day Four of Surgical Outreach in Builsa North and South

The Team of Hope, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to providing surgical, medical, and social support to underserved communities, has attended to a total of 213 surgical cases as of 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, 20th November 2025. This achievement marks the fourth day of the organisation’s annual end-of-year surgical outreach, which began on 17th November and is expected to conclude on 21st November 2025 in both the Builsa North and Builsa South Districts of the Upper East Region.

The cases handled so far include hernias, hydroceles, fibroids, thyroidectomies, haemorrhoids, and various lumps, reflecting the broad scope of conditions being addressed by the team.

Speaking exclusively to Derick Amoabil Aneateba at the Fumbisi Hospital, the CEO of Team of Hope, Dr. Benjamin Adebasui Akinkang, disclosed that the Fumbisi team had attended to 92 cases. Checks at the Sandema Hospital indicated that the team operating there had handled 121 cases, bringing the total number of surgeries completed to 213.

Dr. Akinkang appealed for increased support from traditional authorities and duty bearers, stressing that the financial burden associated with the outreach has become overwhelming. He noted that many healthcare providers and specialists have expressed willingness to join subsequent outreach programmes, which would enable the team to tackle even more complex surgical cases—provided adequate resources are available.

He also raised concern about the high incidence of drug abuse among the youth in Buluk, describing the trend as alarming. Dr. Akinkang revealed that Team of Hope is considering embarking on a large-scale sensitisation campaign aimed at curbing substance abuse in the area.

Ghana Medical Help Donates Essential Medical Equipment to Sandema Hospital.

Ghana Medical Help, a Canada-based nonprofit organization with strong Ghanaian roots, has donated vital medical equipment to the Sandema Hospital in the Builsa North Municipality. The donation is part of the organization’s ongoing effort to strengthen healthcare delivery across the Upper East and Upper West Regions.

Leading the donation was Dr. Dominic Akaateba, Physician Specialist at the Wa Regional Hospital and Country Director of Ghana Medical Help. In his remarks, Dr. Akaateba recounted how the organization began its journey at Sandema Hospital in 2009, when he came on clinical attachment as a medical student. Witnessing the lack of basic medical tools at the time inspired the formation of Ghana Medical Help, which was officially incorporated in 2010.

“For the past 15 years, we’ve moved from donating equipment to supporting clinical engineers and training midwives under our Maternity Service Agenda. We now serve all district hospitals in the Upper East and Upper West Regions,” he stated.

The latest donation includes one obstetric delivery manikin with two neonates, 10 Kiwi vacuum delivery systems, three fetal Doppler machines, a multipurpose vital signs monitor, and 5,000 surgical face masks. The equipment, valued at several thousands of Ghana cedis, is aimed at enhancing maternal and child health services and emergency care at the facility.

Receiving the items on behalf of the hospital, Dr. Paul Edem, Clinical Coordinator at Sandema Hospital, expressed deep gratitude for the gesture. “This donation is quite significant. These devices, especially the Kiwi systems and the manikin, will go a long way to support our work in obstetrics. We assure you that they will be well-maintained and put to full use for the benefit of our patients,” he said.

Dr. Akaateba further urged healthcare workers and community members to support local facilities. “If we all contribute in our small ways, we’ll improve healthcare delivery for our people. Gone are the days when we waited for government to do everything,” he added.

Similar donations would also be made to the St. Lucas Hospital in Wiaga and the Fumbisi Hospital in Builsa South.

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Builsa North Records Two Suspected Cases of Monkeypox

The Builsa North Municipal Health Directorate has recorded two suspected cases of monkeypox, now referred to as mpox, in the Chuchuliga subdistrict. This was disclosed by the Municipal Disease Control Officer, Mr. Thomas Akolaaga, during the second quarter review meeting of the Municipal Risk Communication Committee, held at the Health Directorate’s conference hall on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.

Mr. Akolaaga stated that both suspected mpox cases involve an adult and a child from the same subdistrict. He further revealed that, within the review period, the municipality also recorded two suspected cases of meningitis, one suspected measles case, one suspected case of yellow fever, two suspected cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), and one fatal case of rabies. No cases of anthrax, cholera, or COVID-19 were reported.

On the national front, Mr. Akolaaga mentioned that as of June 7, 2025, Ghana had recorded 531 suspected mpox cases, out of which 71 were confirmed.

He used the opportunity to educate the public on mpox, noting that it is a viral zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans, and also from person to person through direct contact with body fluids, respiratory droplets, or contaminated materials. Common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a distinctive rash that often starts on the face before spreading to other parts of the body.

Mr. Akolaaga advised residents to report suspected cases early, avoid contact with persons showing symptoms, and maintain good personal hygiene.

He also cautioned the public to be on high alert for cholera and other faeco-oral diseases, especially as the rainy season begins. He explained that cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. Symptoms include profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration, which can lead to death if untreated. He encouraged the public to drink clean water, wash hands regularly with soap, and practice proper food hygiene to prevent outbreaks.

Mr. Akolaaga urged all stakeholders to intensify community education and remain vigilant to protect the municipality from possible disease outbreaks.

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Team of Hope Ends Mid-year Surgical Mission in Builsa, Appeals for Community Support.

Team of Hope, a non-profit organization operating in the Upper East Region, has successfully concluded its mid-year surgical outreach in the Builsa Traditional Area.

The three-day exercise, which took place from June 2 to June 4, 2025, saw 100 surgical cases handled at the Sandema Hospital and the Fumbisi Hospital. Conditions treated included hernia, hydroceles, hemorrhoids, and goitre, among others.

Speaking in a live interview, the CEO of Team of Hope, Dr. Benjamin Akinkang, described the outreach as a success and called for increased community support to sustain and expand future missions.

The organization conducts two major surgical outreaches annually—in June and November—as part of its commitment to improving access to essential healthcare in underserved communities.

Over the years, Team of Hope has carried out successful missions at the Sandema Hospital, Fumbisi Hospital, and Paga Hospital, all in the Upper East Region.

Dr. Akinkang emphasized the importance of local collaboration, urging traditional authorities, individuals, and development partners to support the initiative through funding, logistics, and mobilization to reach more people in need.

He reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to providing quality surgical care and called on all stakeholders to help make future outreaches even more impactful.

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Thomas Kofi Alonsi Donates Medical Supplies to Sandema and St. Lucas Hospitals in Builsa North

Mr. Thomas Kofi Alonsi, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Builsa North and Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, has made a significant donation of medical consumables to two major healthcare facilities in the Builsa North Municipality. The recipient hospitals, Sandema Hospital in Sandema and St. Lucas Hospital in Wiaga, are key referral centers that serve a large number of patients from across the municipality.

Despite his loss in the recent parliamentary elections to Mr. James Agalga, Mr. Alonsi expressed gratitude to the people of Builsa North for their support during the campaign. He acknowledged that in every competition, there are wins and losses, but he remains optimistic, stating that "God's time is the best."

Mr. Alonsi emphasized the importance of supporting local health institutions, noting that both Sandema and St. Lucas Hospitals are critical to the health and well-being of many in the region. His donation aims to alleviate some of the challenges faced by these facilities, particularly the shortage of essential medical supplies.

The donated items include several boxes of gloves, plasters, gallons of methylated spirit, rolls of cotton wool, boxes of catheters, and various detergents for cleaning and disinfection. These supplies are expected to ease the burden on healthcare workers and improve patient care.

At Sandema Hospital, the Administrator, Mr. Timbawu Cletus Apui, expressed his appreciation for the donation, acknowledging the pressing challenges facing the hospital, particularly the shortage of medical consumables. He praised Mr. Alonsi for his generosity and reaffirmed that the Regional Director of Health Services is working diligently to address the hospital’s challenges. However, he also called for further support, especially in terms of infrastructure, to enhance the hospital's capacity to deliver quality healthcare.

At St. Lucas Hospital in Wiaga, the hospital's accountant, Mr. Konlan Samuel, also expressed gratitude for the donation, noting that the facility had previously requested medical supplies, some of which had not been fulfilled. He acknowledged that although Mr. Alonsi did not win the election, his ongoing commitment to supporting the people of Builsa North is a testament to his dedication to the community.

Both hospitals are hopeful that more stakeholders and philanthropists will step forward to support their efforts, as the need for medical supplies and infrastructure development remains critical.

Mr. Alonsi’s gesture is seen as a reflection of his commitment to the health and welfare of his constituents, regardless of the electoral outcome.

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@Nppbuilsanorth