We are delighted to share that our ongoing humanitarian work in Ghana has been featured in recent media coverage by two major outlets, GhanaWeb and Peacefmonline.
The featured article, titled “USAID Funding Cuts Strain Ghanaian Health Sector as Local NGOs Adapt,” provides important context on the growing challenges within Ghana’s health sector. It highlights how Give Basic Needs, operating under the Colussi Family Foundation, is stepping up efforts to support vulnerable communities, especially in the northern regions.
Both reports emphasize the increasing pressure on Ghana’s health and development sectors following the withdrawal of key programs by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Development experts caution that the reduction in support could cause major disruptions in remote communities, particularly impacting access to essential medical supplies, immunization programs, and other life-saving services.
Since 2023, Give Basic Needs, an international nonprofit dedicated to reducing suffering and amplifying happiness through Food, Shelter, and Medical services, has expanded its work in Tamale, Gushegu, and surrounding areas to help address these critical needs.
Delivering Critical Health and Water Interventions
The GhanaWeb and Peacefmonline coverage underscores the tangible impact of our initiatives in several key areas.
Medical Initiatives
Give Basic Needs continues to organize medical screening programs for residents and students, focusing on testing for malaria, Hepatitis B & C, and HIV/AIDS. In collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission, we have distributed HIV test kits, condoms, and educational materials, ensuring communities have access to both prevention and treatment resources.
Water and Sanitation (WASH)
Recognizing that clean water is foundational to public health, Give Basic Needs has been actively addressing water scarcity in underserved communities. Across the Gushegu Municipality, including the villages of Dekpunga, Nabule, and Sampemo, we have supported the refurbishment and drilling of boreholes, providing clean drinking water to an estimated 3,500 people.
Traditional leaders such as Alhaji Mahama in Gushegu have personally acknowledged the difference these interventions have made, noting that without them, their families “would have lost hope.”
Food Security
Our mission extends beyond health to include food support programs that fight hunger and malnutrition. Through targeted community initiatives, we have distributed essential food items including rice, pineapples, and cooking oil to struggling households across several districts in Northern Ghana.
Efficiency and the Path Forward
While analysts acknowledge that the scale of USAID’s support cannot be fully replaced, the GhanaWeb and Peacefmonline features highlight the efficiency and impact of Give Basic Needs, showing how focused local action can achieve meaningful outcomes even with modest resources.
As cited in the reports, Give Basic Needs emphasized that even limited funding can make a major difference:
“With just $10,000, we can drill two additional boreholes or conduct disease testing for more than 22,000 individuals.”
This recognition reaffirms that as Ghana navigates the challenges of reduced foreign assistance, **Give Basic Needs remains on the ground, sustaining critical lifelines through our philosophy of Small Acts. Big Happy. **
We remain committed to ensuring that humanitarian principles guide every action we take, and we look forward to fostering further collaboration to strengthen resilience in the communities we serve.
Read the Full Media Coverage
🗞️ Peacefmonline: https://www.peacefmonline.com/article/395550-usaid-funding-cuts-strain-ghanaian-health-sector-as-local-ngos-adapt