Bawumia inaugurates $7.5m infectious disease centre

The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has inaugurated the $7.5-million Infectious Diseases Centre at the Ga East Municipal Hospital at Kwabenya in the Greater Accra Region.

The project, which is private sector-led, with support from the government, has a Level 2.5 biomedical laboratory, a triage unit, waiting areas, a nurses’ station, VIP and general wards, a 21-bed Intensive Care Unit, as well as a pharmacy.

It is also equipped with a recovery courtyard, a dispensary, a medical gas house and a 800KVA generator station.

A major part of the financing came from government agencies, such as the Bank of Ghana, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and the Ghana Gas Company, as well as support from private institutions, such as Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited and some individuals.

The structure was designed jointly by Built Environment Professionals, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and specialist consultants from the Ministry of Health and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

Commendation

Dr Bawumia commended the partners for the display of patriotism in realising the dream of building the nation's first infectious diseases centre.

He said in spite of the ravaging effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it had brought to the fore the patriotic nature of Ghanaians, who responded to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's rallying call for national cohesion to battle the pandemic.

"The President's national cohesion call ignited patriotism, and the private sector response is what today's event represents, demonstrating once again that if we put our minds to it, we will soon discover that we are our own builders and beneficiaries of the Ghana we want," he said.

He described the project as a celebration of Ghanaian ingenuity and patriotism and paid tribute to all those who contributed to making it a reality in record time, especially the GAF, which built it.

"Today is a celebration of Ghanaian ingenuity and patriotism and a dedication to humanity by a team of 536 strong men and women working 24 hours a day to make this project a reality. We are here because of you and Ghana must know you," the Vice-President added.

He also expressed appreciation to the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and COVID-19 case management experts for their guidance, as well as private donors in making sure the facility was fit for purpose.

The General Secretary of the GMA, Dr Justice Yankson, expressed delight at the construction of the centre and called for similar facilities in other parts of the country.

Background

President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the project on April 7, 2020.

It was initially expected to be completed in six weeks, but later the time had to be extended to 12 weeks because extra facilities were added to the centre to enhance its operations.

The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has inaugurated the $7.5-million Infectious Diseases Centre at the Ga East Municipal Hospital at Kwabenya in the Greater Accra Region.

The project, which is private sector-led, with support from the government, has a Level 2.5 biomedical laboratory, a triage unit, waiting areas, a nurses’ station, VIP and general wards, a 21-bed Intensive Care Unit, as well as a pharmacy.

It is also equipped with a recovery courtyard, a dispensary, a medical gas house and a 800KVA generator station.

A major part of the financing came from government agencies, such as the Bank of Ghana, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and the Ghana Gas Company, as well as support from private institutions, such as Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited and some individuals.

The structure was designed jointly by Built Environment Professionals, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and specialist consultants from the Ministry of Health and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

Commendation

Dr Bawumia commended the partners for the display of patriotism in realising the dream of building the nation's first infectious diseases centre.

He said in spite of the ravaging effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it had brought to the fore the patriotic nature of Ghanaians, who responded to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's rallying call for national cohesion to battle the pandemic.

"The President's national cohesion call ignited patriotism, and the private sector response is what today's event represents, demonstrating once again that if we put our minds to it, we will soon discover that we are our own builders and beneficiaries of the Ghana we want," he said.

He described the project as a celebration of Ghanaian ingenuity and patriotism and paid tribute to all those who contributed to making it a reality in record time, especially the GAF, which built it.

"Today is a celebration of Ghanaian ingenuity and patriotism and a dedication to humanity by a team of 536 strong men and women working 24 hours a day to make this project a reality. We are here because of you and Ghana must know you," the Vice-President added.

He also expressed appreciation to the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and COVID-19 case management experts for their guidance, as well as private donors in making sure the facility was fit for purpose.

The General Secretary of the GMA, Dr Justice Yankson, expressed delight at the construction of the centre and called for similar facilities in other parts of the country.

Background

President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the project on April 7, 2020.

It was initially expected to be completed in six weeks, but later the time had to be extended to 12 weeks because extra facilities were added to the centre to enhance its operations.