We need incubators to facilitate NICU services – Dormaa West Director of Health Services pleads

The Director of Health Services for Dormaa West, Mr. Daniel Owusu Amponsah, together with the Dormaa West District Hospital Management have embarked on a program dubbed “District Food Demonstration” to create awareness about the need to patronize locally made foods for a healthy living.

Speaking with GIFTs News during the “District Food Demonstration” Program organized by the Directorate to raise awareness about the importance of consuming locally produced foods, especially during pregnancy for healthy living, Mr. Daniel Owusu Amponsah highlighted that the incidence of anemia among pregnant women in the Dormaa West district appeared alarmingly high in the 2025 calendar year, therefore decision was made to conduct the District Food Demonstration exercise to raise awareness of the nutritional value of local foods and to encourage pregnant women and the entire population to benefit from these nutritious options rather than continuing to rely on canned and other foreign foods that may be detrimental to public health.

He emphasized that the demonstration seeks to promote local foods by showcasing their rich nutritional content and encouraging a shift away from foreign dishes and canned foods. Instead, the focus should be on consuming locally produced foods to maintain a stronger and healthier body.

Mr. Daniel Owusu Amponsah highlighted the significant impact of anemia in pregnant women, which often results in preterm births and other complications requiring the use of incubators for the care of premature infants. However, the Dormaa West District Hospital currently faces a lack of incubators, compelling many women to travel from Nkrankwanta to either Dormaa Ahenkro or Sunyani for these services, thereby causing considerable inconvenience.

He therefore appealed to stakeholders, Nananom and other philanthropists to assist the Nkrankwanta Government Hospital by providing them with incubators to enhance their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) services.

Madam Esther Abakye, the Dormaa West District Coordinating Director, speaking on behalf of the Dormaa West District Chief Executive, Hon. Stephen Azorba Awuni, stated that, fortunately, the Dormaa West District Hospital is recognized as one of the nation’s food baskets, offering a variety of foods that contribute to improved nutrition. She emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on traditional food systems, despite the increasing influence of urbanization. She urged parents to resist pressures from their children to indulge in canned and foreign foods, which offer minimal or no health benefits, instead prepare for them local foods to enhance their health status.

Story By: Kwaku Mensah Abrampa (GIFTs FM-Dormaa Ahenkro)