Overview
The Dormaa West District is one of the 27 administrative districts in the Bono Region of Ghana. It was carved out of the Dormaa Municipal in 2012. The district is located in the western part of the region and has a total land area of 313 square kilometers. It shares boundaries with the Dormaa Municipality to the north, Asutifi District to the east, Asunafo North and Bia District of the Western Region to the south, and La Cote d’Ivoire to the west. The district capital is Nkrankwanta, which is about 124 kilometers west of the regional capital, Sunyani.
The district has a population of 51,909 people, with a majority being Bonos (96.0%). The main language spoken is Bono, and the people are mostly Christians (74%). The district has 296 settlements, one traditional authority, and one constituency.
The district’s topography is generally hilly, rising between 180 meters and 375 meters above sea level. The highest point is about 235 meters above sea level. The district has a wet equatorial climate with a double maxima rainfall regime. The main annual rainfall is between 125cm and 175cm.
The district has 12 health facilities, including one district hospital, one private health center, and three CHAG health facilities. The district hospital is the referral point for all the lower facilities. However, there is a shortage of professional staff and inadequate distribution of skilled human resources. Malaria is the leading cause of OPD attendance, accounting for about 49% of cases. Other top causes of OPD attendance include URTI (16%), intestinal worms (8%), rheumatism (8%), and diarrhea (7%).
The district has several strengths, including dedicated staff and teamwork, availability of a district hospital, and full implementation of functional CHPS zones in all sub-districts. However, there are also weaknesses, including inadequate professional staff, lack of office space and house accommodation for staff, and high maintenance costs of vehicles. Opportunities for the district include its border location with Western Region and La Cote d’Ivoire, stakeholder collaboration, growing community and political support, and the presence of CHAG institutions for collaboration. Threats include the lack of agencies and NGOs to provide funding support, late reimbursement of claims by NHIA, and poor environmental sanitation. Major health concerns in the district include the proximity to neighboring La Cote d’Ivoire, which puts the district at risk of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and cholera. Other concerns include the presence of major rivers, which prone the district to neglected tropical diseases like onchocerciasis and schistosomiasis, and the high incidence of occupational accidents due to illegal lumbering.
