Stories from Isaac Akwetey-Okunor.
The leading communication network in Ghana, Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN), has handed over a GH¢200,000 Accident Centre and Casualty Ward to the management of Atua Government Hospital.
Addressing the gathering at the short but impressive ceremony, the Corporate Service Executive (CSE) of MTN, Mrs. Cynthia Lumor, explained that the MTN Ghana Foundation is focused on making relevant investment in communities across Ghana to brighten the lives of the people. This, she disclosed, has stimulated and motivated the management of MTN to closely work in partnership with stakeholders to identify projects which would help improve the livelihoods of the people.
“We are, therefore, glad to be handing over this facility to the members of this community. As you may all be aware, the Atua Government Hospital, since its inception in 1977, has been a referral centre for the people living in this community,” she added. Mrs. Lumor, who was overwhelmed with the hard work and dedication to duty of the management of the hospital, but was worried about the constraints of the hospital, said: “In this facility, emergencies, including accidents in this part of the region, have been attended to over the years because of its strategic location.”
The hospital, according to available statistics, records about 250 patients per day, however, serious financial constraints have thwarted the efforts of management to deliver quality service to clients. The CSE of MTN mentioned that as her outfit continues to advocate for safe driving and a healthy lifestyle, the MTN Ghana Foundation also takes pride in the fact that it was able to contribute towards the constitution of the Accident Center and Casualty Ward.
Touching on the Foundation, she disclosed that since the establishment of the Foundation, it had invested GH¢14 million in health, education, and economic empowerment, from which the Eastern Region has benefited immensely. According to her, the Foundation had invested over GH¢1,318,251.66 in the areas of education and health projects in the Eastern Region.
Under the health projects, mention can be made of the Kwahu Government Hospital, and Kotokoum Health Centre where among other equipment such as 10 incubators and five ventilators were distributed to the hospitals across the country to curb infant mortality rate.
MTN has further been awarded by the National Blood Bank as the Best Corporate Blood Donor in the country, following its national blood donation exercise held on Valentine’s Day. In his welcome address, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Alexander Osei-Bonsu, mentioned that the most important and critical yardstick normally used to measure any hospital was responsiveness to emergency situations.
He continued that despite the commitment and preparedness of his staff to deliver quality service to people in the area and beyond, there were some challenges, including the lack of a casualty and emergency unit and laundry. In its attempt to address the situation, the management of the hospital, according to the Medical Superintendent, a small room with one bed was converted into a Casualty and Emergency Ward, as well as a laundry where washing is done by hand.
Dr. Osei-Bonsu continued that the condition had brought intense pressure on staff and the wards, since all cases that come to the facility and which needed hours of observation, were always sent to the wards. “Proper triaging during mass home or road accidents becomes a problem, thereby hampering effective service delivery. For the past four years, for example, the hospital has recorded a total of 3,500 road traffic and home accidents,” he said. The Atua Government Hospital Medical Superintendent hinted that after some months of taking over the administration of the hospital, he, together with his staff, decided to purchase a washing machine for the laundry.
This, he said, was followed by countless writing of letters to stakeholders and corporate bodies to come to the aid of the hospital, and in the case of the laundry, help came from Nazareth for its construction. Dr. Osei-Bonsu, however, averred that the project had since been left at its foundation level, and all efforts to have it continued have hit snagged, whilst nobody shows interest in helping with the construction of the Emergency Accident Ward.
At a time when the management of the hospital was about throwing its hands in despair, there came a savior, MTN, through the instrumentality of a certain Rhodarlyn, who is the Social Service Manageress of MTN Foundation.On behalf of management, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, expressed his gratitude to MTN Foundation for the timely rescue, and like Oliver Twist asked for the supply of hospital beds among other support.