In a significant act of philanthropy aimed at improving healthcare delivery in rural Ghana, Hon. Dr. Desmond Bugbilla has donated a wide range of medical equipment and consumables to the Binaba Health Centre in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region. The donation, made possible through a partnership with Penn Med Lancaster General Hospital (PMLGH) and the International Pathways Education Consultants (IPEC) under the Danwith Foundation in Ghana, is expected to transform the facility’s ability to serve its growing patient population.
The items presented included hospital beds, mattresses, wardrobes, surgical gloves, pillows, syringes, wheelchairs, patient monitors, crutches, weighing machines, bed pans, drapes, drainage tubes, tray stands, free needles, urinary catheters and bags, aprons, scrubs, NG tubes, and other essential consumables. These supplies address long-standing shortages that have hampered the centre’s ability to provide efficient and dignified care.
Speaking on behalf of Dr. Bugbilla, Akeliba John explained that the donation was motivated by a deep concern for the state of healthcare in rural communities. He recalled that earlier this year, a video circulated showing a damaged hospital bed at the Binaba Health Centre, which drew widespread public concern. “The incident touched my heart deeply, and I felt compelled to provide the necessary support,” Dr. Bugbilla said through his representative. He stressed that the gesture was not politically motivated but rather part of his enduring commitment to uplifting less privileged communities. Over the years, he has supported the Bawku West District with educational materials, medical equipment, and assistance for women’s groups.
The donation was warmly received by Abdul Gafaru Draman, Physician Assistant and Head of the Health Centre, who expressed gratitude for the intervention. He highlighted the immense pressure on the facility, noting that it attends to between 40 and 60 pregnant women daily at the Out-Patient Department. While the new equipment will ease some of the strain, he appealed for additional support, particularly a scan machine, a blood count machine, a children’s ward, and motorbikes to facilitate outreach programmes. These, he explained, would further strengthen the centre’s capacity to meet the needs of its patients.
The Chief of Binaba, Naba Godwin Asambilla Apabum III, also commended Dr. Bugbilla’s generosity and urged community members to emulate his example by giving back to society. He described the donation as a timely intervention that would not only improve healthcare delivery but also restore dignity to patients who had previously endured inadequate facilities.
This act of philanthropy highlights the critical role that private individuals and organisations can play in complementing government efforts to improve healthcare in underserved areas. Rural health facilities across Ghana often struggle with shortages of basic equipment, and interventions such as this one can make a tangible difference in the lives of patients and healthcare workers alike.
Dr. Bugbilla’s donation to the Binaba Health Centre is therefore more than a one-time gesture; it is part of a broader vision to ensure that communities in the Upper East Region have access to quality healthcare. By responding to a moment of public concern with concrete action, he has demonstrated how compassion and commitment can translate into meaningful change.
Source: Modern Ghana – Dr Desmond Bugbilla donates medical equipment to Binaba Health Centre