Help retool Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

 The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), the main referral hospital serving the Ashanti and the Brong Ahafo regions, needs GH¢60 million to replace aging and obsolete machines and equipment.

Established before the country’s independence in 1954, the hospital has a history of serving Ghanaians, as well as citizens from countries bordering Ghana to the north.

For the first time in its history, a massive retooling is planned, after a comprehensive assessment of the critical needs of the facility.

The launch of an endowment fund will begin the bid to pool GH¢60 million to replace some of the equipment in the hospital aged more than 10 years.

The Chief Executive of the hospital, Dr Oheneba Owusu-Danso, announcing the intention of the management, called on the media to support the hospital by raising awareness.

“When the media tell the real story, both successes and challenges, to the world, the hospital will attract the right support to be positioned on a good pedestal to provide care for its ever-increasing clients,” he told journalists in Kumasi.

Indeed, the media, as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, have the role to project worthy effort and initiatives that will benefit communities, regions and countries.

The decision by the management of the hospital is one such worthy effort that must rally all Ghanaians, in the goodwill of the New Year, to support wholeheartedly.

For the Accident and Emergency Unit, named as the Kufuor Centre in honour of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, which was constructed about 10 years ago, the retooling will be the first time of replacing equipment since its establishment.

Other units of the hospital, such as the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), will benefit from ventilators from the GH¢60 million endowment fund to help patients breathe, at least until treatment or whatever procedure is given.

The endowment fund will ensure a sustainable flow of money to see to the massive change in equipment.

Before that happens, however, Ghanaians would need to rise to the occasion once again and lead the effort for new equipment that will benefit all of us.

Ghanaians rose to the occasion when the 40-year-old Mother and Child Care building was brought to their attention.

Led by the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo- Addo, institutions, corporate Ghana, religious and faith-based organisations, non-governmental organisations, chiefs, leaders and individuals all stood to be counted for a unit to prevent the needless death of mothers and babies at the hospital due to congestion.

The time has come once again for all to contribute to a cause that will definitely benefit all of us, directly or indirectly.

The Daily Graphic believes that Ghanaians are up to the task of resourcing their health facilities when called upon to do so, as is the case now.

Although the money required may be huge, the commitment of all not to be left out but to contribute within our various capacities will ensure some seed money to invest for the sustainable funding required to retool KATH, Ghana’s second largest public health facility.

We are hopeful that another beautiful effort will be played out as all Ghanaians strive to see to the establishment of the endowment fund.