Renovation works on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has begun to enable the facility to provide a comfortable and safe healing environment for patients.
The hospital is currently ‘sick’ and saddled with leakages, cracked walls, exposed wires, and broken windows, among others.
Out of the 10 million-dollar target to heal the facility, hospital management says it has received more than 50 per cent of the money, hence, the need to start work with the hope of completing in 2024.
“The good news is that since the launch of the Heal Komfo Anokye project, public response has been so encouraging that work on the project has commenced with the beginning of the repair of the roof of the blocks which has been leaking for years.
“Two months after the launch of the fund-raising campaign by the Asantehene, we are about 60 per cent through with our $10m target in terms of pledges and cash donations.
“My major appeal remains that fixing the sorry state of the blocks is going to require the contributions of all philanthropic individuals and entities in the country and beyond. With no major repairs since their construction in 1954, facilities in the old GEE blocks have suffered massive deteriorations and are no longer fit for the delivery of contemporary specialist inpatient services. We are, therefore, urging those who are yet to respond to the appeal of Asantehene to do so in the coming weeks so that the project can be successfully executed in time for the good of the country,” said the Chief Executive Officer of the Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah at the hospital’s 2023 Thanksgiving Service and Workers’ Awards.
The renovation works is expected to give a major facelift to the second largest teaching hospital in Ghana when completed in 2024. It will also serve as a legacy project to mark the 25th Anniversary Otumfuo’s enstoolment.
Professor Addai-Mensah announced an innovation to bring healthcare delivery at the doorstep of patients who patronize KATH.
“Under an arrangement with Ghana Post, the supply of refill medicines by courier to our chronic stable patients scattered all over the country will save people from the stress of having to travel from their homes just for their medicines at a small fee. Upon the receipt of their medicines, the pharmacists assigned by the hospital to the patient will receive an electronic prompt on phone so that they can call the patients for confirmation of the delivery of the medicines sent and appropriately advise them on how to take them.
“The first of its kind in the country’s public health sector, these innovative interventions will no doubt contribute to improving rational drugs use practices at the hospital as it will ensure that patients receive medications and care appropriate to their clinical needs without the risk of travelling to the hospital,” he disclosed.
20 longest serving members of staff in the hospital were recognised and honoured at the end of year Thanksgiving.
19 other category winners independently assessed by a committee of their peers and selected on a very competitive basis were also awarded for distinguishing themselves in their various fields during the year.
They were all presented with various electronic gadget as their prizes.
The overall best worker received 20,000 cedis whilst the first runner-up went home with 15,000 cedis.
The 2nd and 3rd runners-up also received 10,000 and 5,000 cedis respectively.
Below are some photos of the ongoing renovation:
By Ibrahim Abubakar|Akoma FM|Kumasi
