One year after becoming operational, the Twedie Government Hospital has improved access to healthcare for residents of the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti Region and surrounding communities.
However, poor road infrastructure and inadequate staffing continue to undermine the facility’s ability to provide optimal healthcare services.
The hospital, which has become an important referral centre within the district, has recorded steady growth in patient attendance since opening its doors. But patients, motorists and health workers continue to grapple with the deplorable condition of the road leading to the facility, thus raising concerns about delayed access to emergency medical care.
Speaking at the hospital’s first anniversary celebration, the Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Fred Adomako Boateng, commended the Management and staff for their dedication and the progress made within the past year.
He described the hospital as a critical addition to healthcare delivery in the district, but stressed that the poor road network remains a major challenge that requires urgent government attention.
“The hospital has performed remarkably within its first year of operation. However, improving the road leading to the facility is essential to ensure patients can access healthcare promptly, especially during emergencies,” he said.
The Medical Superintendent of the Twedie Government Hospital and Family Physician, Dr. Esther Serwah Agbedinu, disclosed that the facility currently has a workforce of over 100 but requires additional healthcare professionals to meet the increasing demand for services.
“Although the hospital’s workforce has increased from 45 to 102 staff, the 40-bed facility continues to experience a surge in patient numbers. We urgently need additional nurses, midwives, doctors and anaesthetists to meet the growing demand for healthcare services and reduce unnecessary referrals to other health facilities,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Dr. Agbedinu said the hospital remains committed to delivering quality healthcare and appealed to the government and other stakeholders to support the facility with the infrastructure and human resources needed to improve service delivery.
Health authorities believe addressing the hospital’s infrastructural and staffing challenges will enable it to expand access to quality healthcare and further strengthen the health system in the Atwima Kwanwoma District.
By Kwame Yeboah
