The Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area, Togbega Gabusu VI, has raised concerns about the state of the Volta Regional Hospital, describing the facility as a ‘death trap’ despite its elevation from a municipal hospital.
The Chief who made an unannounced visit to the hospital located in Hohoe on Tuesday, expressed displeasure, noting that the upgrade of the hospital in status has not been matched with infrastructural and logistical support.
According to Togbega Gabusu, the facility which now serves a regional referral center has several critical departments continue to operate with obsolete equipment, congested wards and overstretched facilities, emphasizing the need for an urgent overhaul.
He said the conditions prevalent at the hospital endanger the lives of both patients and health workers.
“I know the authorities are listening to us and they will act as a matter of urgency to save lives,” he added.
A closer observation by the news team revealed that much of the hospital’s infrastructure remain unchanged from its municipal status days.
The Hospital’s Administrator, Divine Akie, in an interaction with journalists, revealed that the facility currently operates without a dedicated surgical ward and an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a situation he admitted is a major setback for the hospital which now receives cases beyond the Municipality.
He also reiterated the need for a major but urgent rehabilitation of the facility to meet its status and the health needs of patients.
The facility began its operations on April 5, 1935, but was officially inaugurated by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah on December 21, 1952.
The facility was upgraded to a Municipal status in later years before becoming a regional hospital in 2019 following the upgrading of Trafalgar into what is now known as the Ho Teaching Hospital.
By Faisel Abdul-Iddrisu
