Government to rehabilitate Kyebi, Kwahu hospitals

The Minister of Health, Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, has cut the sod for the commencement of expansion works on the Kyebi Government Hospital and the rehabilitation of the Kwahu Government Hospital.

The Kyebi Government Hospital will have its existing units enlarged while the soon to be rehabilitated Kwahu Government Hospital will have new units introduced into its structure, all in the bid to upgrade the statuses of the two facilities.

According to the Health Minister, the two hospitals had not been renovated for several decades.

"This hospital (Kyebi) was built in 1926 and last saw renovation in 1996.

The Kwahu Government Hospital has not undergone any renovation since it was built in 1954.

It is, therefore, important to renovate and expand them to meet modern standards. Some of the wards, units, tools and equipment are outmoded and need replacement.

"When the works are completed the Kyebi Hospital will have a new kitchen, laundry, laboratory and children's ward and will in addition have a neo-natal intensive care unit, maternity ward and new psychiatric centre," he said.

The two facilities are among four selected health facilities in the Eastern Region earmarked for reconstruction, retooling and equipping by the Ministry of Health in the effort to promote universal healthcare delivery in the country.

Other healthcare facilities to be upgraded include Abri-Kom and Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospitals in Aburi and Mampong respectively.

Estimated duration of delivery

Contracta Engineerer Group, a Brazilian firm, is the contractor working on the hospital projects.

The Kyebi Government Hospital project is expected to be completed in two years while that of the Kwahu Government Hospital would be finished in two and a half years.

The date for commencement of work on the hospitals has not been confirmed though the Health Minister has said it would be soon.

Mr Agyeman-Manu said the contract sum for works on all four hospitals in the Eastern Region was estimated at €40 million.

The Technical Director of the contracting firm, Mr Reginald Longdon, said the firm would engage local workers on the projects.

"In order to leave something behind after the works we would be engaging local workers.

“We would employ local artisans and others to work with us on the various projects we would be undertaking in the region and we would not only employ them but also help them to develop their skills through training,” he said.

The Minister for Works and Housing and Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South, Mr Samuel Atta Kyea, gave an assurance that he would ensure that the project received the needed support for its successful execution and completion within schedule.

"I assure you that it would not be long when work on the Kyebi Hospital will begin; this is not mere talk. We will provide the necessary support for the project to be completed within two years," he said.

Appeal for employment of casual workers

The Eastern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Alberta Biritwum-Nyarko, appealed to the sector minister to have casual workers employed in the hospital considering that many health sector workers in various hospitals in the region had retired.

"One of our major concerns is that for some time now there has been no financial clearance for Category D and E staff.

Yet these group of workers keep leaving the service through retirement, death and other means,” she said.

Dr Biritwum-Nyarko said hospitals in the region had almost run out of utility staff such as orderlies and security men.

“To be able to clean and provide security services to protect life and property hospitals are forced to recruit casuals," she said.

She also expressed her concern over the financial difficulties some of the hospitals were facing and appealed to the Minister of Health to consider giving clearance for staff in the above categories to be recruited.