The Babungo community in Ngoketungia Division, NW region has been commended for their reasonable decision to choose quality healthcare to their people at a time when they need it most. What began as a spark of hope is fast becoming a reality that Finkwi Baptist Health Center is being transformed into a full-fledged hospital. The signs are visible and the infrastructure is now in place!
In the midst of the ongoing crisis in the region, the Babungo Diaspora Community known as Vengo Ndee and VEDCA-USA led the people through their Fon to partner with the CBC Health Services to raise enough funds to construct a theatre, a surgical ward and residences for doctors in Finkwi Baptist Health Centre in the hope of hope of bringing quality healthcare to their doorsteps and in the wish of transforming the centre into a full-fledged hospital in the near future.
Inaugurating and dedicating the health facilities on Saturday, February 14, the Director of Health Services, DHS, Mr. Ngum Samuel (represented) and the Chief of Centre, COC, of Finkwi Baptist Health Centre, Awah Calipride hailed the contribution of the Babungo community. “You chose to invest in life, dignity and well-being of your families and future generation”.
The DHS deeply appreciated the Fon of Babungo for fostering a peaceful, enabling environment in which the CBC Health Services can operate. The people were encouraged to make use of the health centre and pay their medical bills if they want their wish of a ‘Finkwi Referral Hospital’ to come true.
While celebrating the milestone achievement, the Chief of Finkwi Baptist Health Center, Awah Calipride presented three key challenges inhibiting the smooth functioning of the ‘would-be’ hospital. These include: Overwhelming medical bills pending from people who have already received care, Unreliable electricity supply needing a backup power system and Difficult terrain and bad roads for patients to access the hospital.
In unison, each in their various speeches, the Quarter-head of Finkwi, representatives of the Babungo Traditional Council, Vengo Ndee (Babungo Development Association) and VEDCA-USA pledged their determination to pursue their new found partnership with the CBC Health Services to the very end. In particular, the representative of the Traditional Council implored the Chief of Center not to hesitate to channel any challenge beyond her competence to the Traditional Council to examine and handle.
The Quarter-head paid tribute to the former Director of Health Services, Prof. Tih Pius Muffih for his expert and wise advice when the Babungo people in Finkwi came to him for counsel on how to transform Finkwi Baptist Health Center into a hospital.
Through their mouthpiece, VEDCA-USA felt proud with the CBC Health Services for realising the project in record time. They resolved to canvass for more funds towards further developments in the health facility that today stand out as a jewel in the Babungo community.
The foundation stone for the construction of a theatre, surgical ward and residences for doctors in Finkwi Baptist Health Center was laid in December 2024 and exactly 22 months, the project is delivered and ready for use.
