Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Obuobia Darko-Opoku has indicated that a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab), will be established in Tamale to ease the stress of patients traveling long distances to access such services.
According to her, establishing a Cath lab in Tamale is a major priority to President Mahama to breach the healthcare service gab and ease financial burden of patients.
“Tamale Teaching Hospital says that they have been looking for a Cath Lab for almost a century. And almost a century at first sight, there’s a President called John Dramani Mahama who makes a decision out of the blue.
“It will be amazing in the sight of Ghanaians that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund is here to stay. And these are the kind of interventions that we are here to make. We are touching the right spots. So, we are not just buying the equipment. We are negotiating for the training of the specialists who will manage these efforts,” she said.
A Cath Lab is a specialized hospital room with advanced imaging (like X-ray). Cath Labs significantly impact heart care by allowing minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions, improving patient outcomes through rapid intervention like opening blocked arteries with stents.
Obuobia Darko Opoku mentioned that the Cath Lab will be the best legacy a President can ever leave for his country.
“And while it’s on its way, we have the cardiologists, the biochemical engineers, the nurses, the pharmacists who are going to be situated in that facility throughout their training,” she hinted.
Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. Abubakari Bawah Abdulai expressed optimism that the Cath Lab will position the hospital to deliver cardiac emergencies.
“Time is of essence in health service delivery and so once the Cath Lab is here, we can save more lives and resources. It’s been our major challenge and once this is done, we shall continue to render quality healthcare services,” he stated.
Cardiologist at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. Abdul Suburl Yakubu, gave the assurances that the Cath Lab will help raise standards and trust.
“The Cath Lab will reduce the incidence of heart attacks which is becoming increasingly common in the five regions of the north. The Mahama Care programme will benefit all aspects of our healthcare systems,” he noted.
