Government has not abandoned health projects — Minister of Health

The Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyemang Manu, has stated that the government has not abandoned any health infrastructural facilities begun by the previous government.

He said the government was committed to bringing every uncompleted hospital project to completion as a means to improving the number of healthcare facilities in the country.

“On assumption of office on January 7, 2017, the government, in the pursuit of continuity, never abandoned any health facility that was begun by the previous government,” he stated.

Mr Manu made the assertion at the Ministers Weekly Briefing on COVID-19 in Accra yesterday, where he gave an update on health infrastructure projects in the country and responded to claims that the government had abandoned hospital projects begun by the previous government.

District hospitals

He also explained how the government intended to fund the construction of 88 district hospitals announced by the President in his eighth address to the nation on the novel coronavirus disease.

He said although the government had been working quietly on the project, it was not until the outbreak of COVID-19 that the need for treatment centres across the country for infectious diseases became paramount.

“We are working on getting comprehensive treatment centres in places like Sewua, Zebilla, Pantang, Dodowa, Asawinso, Goaso, Cape Coast and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. The Fevers Unit at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Takoradi, Nalerigu and Sunyani will also be rehabilitated.

“These are things that will make us strengthen our healthcare programmes and I think with all these infrastructure coming on board, the President was confident to announce that he is going to build 88 district hospitals,” he said.

On complaints that the government did not have a budget for the 88 district hospitals, he said: “COVID-19 was not in the budget but all of a sudden we have managed to buy PPE, managed to award contract for treatment centres, managed to quarantine 1,030 people for two weeks in good hotels in Accra and have paid the cost involved.

“There is a lot that we have done over the past few months and all the expenditures involved were not in the budget,” he said.

Resources committed

He said since its inception of office, the government had spent time and resources and had completed quite a number of health projects across the country.

The Minister of Health said the government had built and equipped 10 polyclinics in the Central Region, including one at Gomoa Dawurampon, which was begun in 2016 and was scheduled to be completed in 2018.

“I am glad to inform the nation that I have gone round and have commissioned all these projects,” he said.

He said also that the Tamale Teaching Hospital Phase Two project which was begun in July 2015 and was expected to be completed by December 2018, was nearing completion.

In addition, he said the first phase of works on the 597-bed University of Ghana Medical Centre was close to finishing, adding that “this hospital is about 70 per cent operational and providing services.”

“We anticipate to have it completed and functioning fully by October this year,” he said, adding that the intensive care unit of the facility was being used currently as a treatment centre for patients with COVID-19.

Mr Manu said the previous government had a programme to expand the radiotherapy and nuclear medicine departments at the Korle Bu and the Komfo Anokye Teaching hospitals but they were abandoned along the way due to lack of access to funds.

“We have managed to clear the challenges with the project and as I speak work is ongoing on the two projects. I want to believe that the projects would be commissioned by the close of the year,” he said.

He spoke about the Wa Regional Hospital which he said was in use currently.

Besides, he said, the government had completed the Ga East District Hospital in Accra and it was functioning as a major treatment centre for COVID-19 patients.

Ongoing works

The Minister of Health mentioned other places where construction works on health facilities were currently progressing steadily as Twifo-Praso, Konongo, Nsawkaw, Tepa and Salaga.

“Anyone who has doubts can visit these locations and see things for themselves. Work on the Tepa and Nsawkaw projects are expected to be completed and commissioned by the close of June this year. The others will be completed hopefully by October or November,” he said.

He said works were also ongoing on the construction of seven district hospitals with integrated IT systems in Dodowa, Fomena, Kumawu, Abetifi, Garu Timpani, Sekondi and Takoradi.

“Construction works on district hospitals in Sawla, Buipe and Somanya and a polyclinic in Bamboi are also ongoing and are between 45 and 65 per cent done,” he said.

Buttressing the government’s commitment to complete old health facility projects, he said work on the construction of the Bekwai District Hospital, which began in the post-independence era, was currently close to completion. A unit of the facility, he said, was being used as a treatment centre for COVID-19 patients.

Mr Manu said work on modernising and equipping the Tetteh Quashie Memorial Hospital, Kyebi District Hospital and Aburi and Atibie government hospitals were progressing steadily.

“We have completed 16 Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds in different parts in the country while another 26 CHPS compounds would be commissioned this year,” he said.

In addition, he said work on phase two of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital rehabilitation project would soon take off.

Meanwhile, the government has completed procurement processes for equipment to be purchased for works on phase two of the Wa Regional Hospital.

He said the government had completed construction and equipping of the Komfo Anokye Maternity and Children’s Ward which had been left unfinished for close to 40 years. Immediately the restriction on public gathering is removed, the sod would be cut at the hospital for work to begin on the old maternity and children’s block,” he assured.

Other projects

The minister also said Parliament had given approval for 12 polyclinics to be constructed in various communities in the Eastern, Ahafo and Greater Accra regions.