Wenchi Methodist Hospital cuts sod for orthopaedic centre

The Wenchi Methodist Hospital (WMH) has cut the sod for the construction of an 80-bed capacity Orthopaedic Centre at the cost of €600,000.

It is an expansion project, expected to be completed in 18 months, will increase the centre's existing 50-bed capacity to 130.

The facility is to be constructed in partnership with the German Government.

The Government of Germany is providing €450,000, while the hospital is mobilising €150,000 to finance the project, including procurement of beds, hospital equipment and training of staff.

The hospital is being expanded into a centre of excellence, where staff and orthopedic students will be trained, and for conducting research.

Cut down expenses

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alexander Kwaku Kyei, last Wednesday said the facility would consist of a private area for children as well as a centre for long and short stay .

Mr Kyei said the unit received accident and trauma victims across the country, including from neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso and La Cote d'Ivoire.

He urged the contractor, Dot. Dent Ltd, to use quality building materials, avoid shoddy work and speed up construction in order to complete it within the scheduled date.

The Director of Health of the Methodist Church Ghana, Enoch Osafo, told the Daily Graphic that the church was developing the facility to become a centre of excellence.

"When completed, it will be a full package, where we will offer training, treatment of trauma cases and conduct research," he said.

Mr Osafo said the facility would be equipped with modern and special equipment to handle all orthopedic cases.

"The Centre is an immediate point around the Wenchi enclave where a lot of accidents occur, so we need to increase our capacity such that immediately there is an accident and we record mass casualties, the centre will be ready to handle such mass casualties and deal with all trauma cases," he said.

Mr Osafo said the expansion was to enable the facility to meet the needs of the municipality and communities along the Tamale, Wa and Kumasi stretches.

Cases

The Head of the Orthopaedic and Spine Surgeon at the WMH, Dr Ballu Sibiri, said since the establishment of the centre in 2015, the unit had continued to receive orthopedic cases on a daily bases.

He said there were many trauma and orthopedic cases because of the increasing use of motorcycles and tricycles in the area".

"Most of the injuries are really bad, so when victims don't get prompt attention, the situation sometimes becomes bad."

For his part, the Bishop of the Wenchi Diocese of the Methodist Church Ghana, Right Reverend Alfred Appiah Andam, said the hospital secured the Federal Government of Germany funding through the effort of Kwame Abrefa Busia, a native of Wenchi, who lived in Germany.

He commended him for his continuous support to the hospital over the years.

He urged the public, including those in Europe, to help the hospital to complete the ongoing three-storey residential apartment for medical officers to reduce the accommodation deficit of the hospital.

Writer's email: biiya.ali@graphic.com.gh