Two Hospital projects in Eastern Region take off

The Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, last Friday cut the sod for two hospital projects in the Eastern Region.

They are the expansion and refurbishment of the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital in Mampong-Akuapem in the Akuapem North District and the construction of a new district hospital in Aburi in the Akuapem South District at the site of the Kom Presbyterian Clinic to replace the existing facility.

The two projects are expected to be completed within 24 months.

The initiatives form part of the government’s €40-million district hospitals project aimed at accelerating Ghana’s efforts at attaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Under the €40-million project, four district hospitals are to be provided through the replacement, expansion and refurbishment of existing struggling or small health facilities.

The Daily Graphic observed that the contractor, Messrs Contracta, had already mobilised equipment and workers to the two sites and had started work.

Services

The 40-bed facility in Aburi and the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital will provide all services offered by a modern hospital, such as surgery, in-patient and out-patient, laboratory, paediatric, maternal and neonatal services.

Others include accident and emergency, mortuary, pharmacy, mental health and dental services.

Mr Agyeman-Manu said the hospitals would have their exclusive medical gas systems and staff residences.

He said as part of the scope of work, the contractor would ensure that suppliers maintained responsibility for not just the supply of equipment but also installation, commissioning, maintenance, warranty, spare parts, training, among others.

“A two-year equipment maintenance programme has been included in the scope of work to ensure the replacement of equipment parts by the contractor within the period,” he said.

The Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital — built in honour of the man who brought cocoa to Ghana — looked dilapidated, and from a distance looked like an abandoned facility, the Daily Graphic observed at the facility.

Indeed, the traditional leaders and the people of Akuapem said the hospital was on the verge of collapse.

Partnership

In Aburi, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, said the church was happy to partner the government to enhance healthcare delivery in the country.

He expressed gratitude to the government for elevating the Kom Presbyterian Clinic into a district hospital and assured it that the church would continue to support in healthcare delivery because it was the first to bring healthcare services to Ghana.