The lack of well-equipped emergency units in many Ghanaian hospitals continues to pose a major challenge, often resulting in preventable deaths, delays in care, overcrowding and an overstretched emergency medical system.
At the Saint Louis Catholic Health Centre in Bodwesango, in the Adansi Asokwa District of the Ashanti Region, the lack of a fully equipped emergency unit has long hindered efforts to handle critical cases.
As a result, many patients in need of urgent care are referred to distant hospitals, delaying treatment and weakening healthcare delivery.
In a telephone interview, Evans Twumasi Boateng, a Physician Assistant at the facility, described the situation as a major setback. “Emergency care is an essential service delivery requirement for every health facility. For years, we have struggled to extend this support to our people due to the lack of basic equipment,” he said.
In response to an appeal from the facility, Obuasi-based NGO Fifty 50 Club has donated medical equipment worth GH¢45,000 to help establish an emergency response unit at the centre. The donation includes a cardiac monitor, pulse oximeter, two crank beds with accessories, two ambu bags and two medication trolleys.
The President of Fifty 50 Club, Jacob Edmund-Acquah, explained that although the donation was in direct response to the hospital’s request, it also formed part of the club’s fifth anniversary activities. Established in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the club has since undertaken several life-changing interventions, including supporting surgeries, donating medical supplies, providing scholarships, and assisting artisans to set up businesses.
“We have always been driven by our quest to impact lives. Over the past five years, we can confidently say that we are on track to achieving our mission of transforming lives and communities through our initiatives,” Mr Edmund-Acquah said.
Beyond the health centre donation, the club also paid school and hostel fees amounting to GH¢10,000 for a third-year medical student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). In the coming days, it is expected to extend support to T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School in Fomena and break ground for a weighing centre at Kyekyewere Health Centre.
The Fifty 50 Club’s contribution to healthcare delivery in Obuasi and neighbouring districts has drawn widespread praise. Dr Kwadwo Anim, Executive Director of the AngloGold Ashanti Health Foundation and a member of the club, described its impact as remarkable.
“The Club has made a tremendous difference by providing logistics to health facilities and supporting patients with critical conditions. Bridging healthcare gaps cannot be the government’s responsibility alone – it requires the collective effort of private groups like the Fifty 50 Club,” he emphasised.
Founded in July 2020, the Fifty 50 Club comprises employees of AngloGold Ashanti, its subsidiaries and other corporate institutions in Ghana and abroad. With 265 members, it pools monthly contributions to fund interventions in healthcare, education and community development.
