Mr Eric Edem Agbana, the Member of Parliament for Ketu North, has commissioned and officially handed over a newly completed Infirmary at Dzodze-Penyi Senior High School (DZOSEC), describing the facility as a product of leadership continuity and collective commitment to student welfare.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Agbana acknowledged that the project, which began in August 2020, was initiated by the former MP for the constituency, Dr James Klutse Avedzi.
“This project is solely his vision. He laid the foundation and brought it to a level that made it easier for us to complete,” he said.
Mr Agbana said he would have no objection if the facility were named the “Avedzi Clinic” in recognition of the former MP’s role in starting the project.
He commended the former Headmaster, Mr Joshua Vidzro, for consistently advocating for the completion of the infirmary and for mobilising support from non-governmental organisations and partners, including Dr Ebenezer Mbonga Akwanga, to provide some of the medical equipment now in use at the facility.
Mr Agbana said the infirmary was now fully equipped and fit for purpose, and capable of serving both the school and the surrounding community.
“We now have a facility that can serve a community of over 4,000 people,” he said, adding that efforts were underway to secure a resident Physician Assistant (PA) to strengthen healthcare delivery.
He urged students and staff to maintain the facility properly and to use it responsibly.
“Do not turn the clinic into a hideout. Use it for genuine health needs. A healthy mind lives in a healthy body,” he said.
The MP announced that several additional projects would be implemented on the campus within the year, including the rehabilitation of internal roads, the construction of drainage systems, and the provision of additional furniture for classrooms and offices.
He said approval had also been granted for the creation of an additional access route into the school to improve movement and safety.
Mr Agbana cautioned students against acts of indiscipline, including sleeping outside campus and engaging in immoral activities, and said the Assembly would collaborate with the Police to intensify night patrols around the school’s surroundings.
“Discipline is key to your success, to your families, and to the future of this nation,” he said, urging students to study hard and take advantage of the school’s “serene and enabling learning environment.”
Reverend Martin Amenaki, the Municipal Chief Executive for Ketu North, described the day as a joyful and historic moment for the school and the municipality.
He said with a population of more than 4,000 students and staff, DZOSEC effectively functioned as a community and therefore deserved a functional health facility.
“It is the government’s vision to ensure that all major communities have access to primary healthcare services. This infirmary brings that vision closer to reality for DZOSEC,” he said.
Rev. Amenaki congratulated both the former and current MPs for starting and completing the project, noting that, “credit must go to both the one who began it and the one who brought it to completion.”
He appealed to students to protect and make good use of the facility and called for the deployment of night health staff to cater for emergencies.
Alhaji Sumaila Gariba, the Ketu North Municipal Director of Health, said the completion of the infirmary had lifted a major burden off the Health Directorate.
He explained that Ghana Health Service policy required all senior high schools to have infirmaries, but the absence of a completed structure at DZOSEC had delayed its formal operationalisation.
“This facility is now fully furnished and meets the standards of a health centre. Leadership has truly taken charge of this municipality,” he said.
Alhaji Gariba said the infirmary would operate as an extension of the Penyi Health Centre, which is supervised by a Physician Assistant.
“There will be a resident clinician here, supervised by the PA at the Penyi Health Centre, who will also visit periodically to attend to students who need medical consultation,” he explained.
He encouraged students and staff to seek medical attention early rather than waiting for conditions to worsen.
“We will ensure a constant supply of essential drugs and the regular presence of health staff so that when you come, you receive the care you need,” he assured.
Mr Gerhard Avudzivi, the Acting Headmaster of DZOSEC, described the commissioning as a historic milestone in the life of the school.
“Quality education cannot thrive without good health. This infirmary will ensure prompt and professional medical attention for our students and staff,” he said.
He praised Dr James Klutse Avedzi for initiating the project in 2020 and bringing it to the roofing level, and Mr Agbana for completing it after assuming office in 2025.
“This project is a testament to continuity in leadership and development. It shows what can be achieved when leaders build on the work of their predecessors,” he said.
Mr Avudzivi also thanked the Municipal Assembly, parents, old students, and other stakeholders for their support, noting that the facility would enhance discipline, academic focus, and peace of mind for parents and guardians.
