A new health facility, PAT Memorial Anglican Clinic, has been inaugurated in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital on Thursday, August 14.
The clinic was jointly put up by the Anglican Diocese of Koforidua and a family of three, namely Kate Patience Quartey, Dr Benedicta Ababio and Kathyln Ababio.
Some of the services to be provided at the clinic are ultrasound scan, deliveries, general surgeries, maternity, laboratory, stress management, outpatient department (OPD) and post-natal cases, among others.
At the inaugural ceremony, the Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese of the Anglican Church, Rt Rev. Felix Odei Annancy, said the facility would be providing quality medical care, as well as advanced treatment options, to members of the community.
Rt Rev. Annancy, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the clinic, assured patients of a haven of hope, compassion and healing, adding that skilled and dedicated healthcare professionals had been engaged to provide the necessary healthcare services.
The Koforidua Bishop stated that the clinic was also to take care of the maternity needs of both congregants and the public.
Rt Rev. Annancy said his outfit decided to put up the clinic because God's work was holistic and included services to mankind.
He said the clinic was located at the centre of the town to ensure that both women and men seeking medical services did not travel long distances to access healthcare services.
He stated that as Koforidua was expanding, the diocese had agreed to complement the existing health facilities, both government-owned and private, and that it would go a long way to supplement the government’s efforts at providing the health needs of the people.
Significant step
The Administrator of the Clinic, Rev. Fr Dr Isaac Sarfo, said the objective of putting up such a facility marked a significant step towards improving healthcare delivery in Koforidua and its surrounding communities.
That, he indicated, reflected the church’s commitment to the physical, spiritual, psychological and emotional healing of the people.
"We are prepared and will treat patients both spiritually, physically, psychologically and emotionally, as the church is a faith-based organisation that also cares for the vulnerable, poor, less privileged and neglected, as well as the unfortunate people in society.
"Our objective or inspiration for the new facility is to save lives, since the church has been preaching for good health for members," Rev. Fr Dr Sarfo stated.
Licence
The Eastern Regional Head in charge of Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA), John Asumaning Agyapong, said HeFRA was established primarily to license and regulate both public and private health facilities in the country.
He indicated that his outfit was to ensure that such facilities met certain standards of quality, safety and patient care, adding that the key functions of HeFRA included licensing, monitoring, setting standards and inspection of health facilities.
"At times, you visit a health facility and such health facility is not conforming to the standard and best practices.
Before HeFRA issues a health facility with a licence to operate as a clinic, it is supposed to have a qualified medical doctor," Mr Agyapong said.
Writer's email: haruna.wunpini@graphic.com.gh
