Abandoned Chorkor Community Clinic: A beacon of hope turned into a symbol of neglect

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By Stanley Kwabla Arku – 04/09/2024

In the heart of Accra’s Ablekuma South Constituency, the once-promising Chorkor Community Clinic now stands in disrepair. What was once envisioned as a lifeline for thousands of residents has become a haunting symbol of a promise unfulfilled.

For nearly a decade, the clinic has remained incomplete, abandoned since 2014. Its rusted metal rods rise from the ground, marking the skeleton of what was supposed to be a modern healthcare facility.

“We were excited when they started building the clinic,” said Ayorkor, a longtime resident. “We thought we would finally have access to healthcare right here in our own community. But now, it’s just a painful reminder of what could have been.”

The clinic was meant to address the pressing healthcare needs of Chorkor, a densely populated area where malaria, and other health concerns are common. But as the years passed without completion, the promise of accessible healthcare has turned into frustration and desperation.

Impact on Healthcare Access

Without a functioning clinic, residents of Chorkor are often forced to seek medical care in neighboring communities like Mamprobi, James Town, or Korle Gonno, even in emergencies. This has not only placed a financial burden on families but also put lives at risk.

“We have to travel long distances, even for small medical issues,” said Judith Laryea, another Chorkor resident. “In emergencies, this can be deadly. If someone is seriously ill, by the time we reach Mamprobi or Korle Gonno, it’s often too late. We need this clinic now more than ever.”

The strain on healthcare access has been particularly hard on vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Judith recalls how expectant mothers in the area often find themselves struggling to get to distant hospitals for prenatal checkups and childbirth, adding to the already dire situation.

Local Advocacy for Change

For Dennis Tettey, a member of the Chorkor Electoral Area Unit Committee, the clinic’s abandonment is more than just an infrastructural failure, it’s a failure of governance.

“The clinic was supposed to serve our people, to bring healthcare closer to home,” Tettey explained. “But the state it’s in now is an embarrassment. The people of Chorkor have been forgotten, and it’s time the authorities fix this.”

Despite the years of neglect, there are still those in Chorkor who cling to the belief that the clinic’s potential can be revived. The community, while disillusioned, continues to hope that the right intervention will bring their healthcare facility back to life.