From Ernest Best Anane
A 16-bed medical ward, funded by Dr. Kofi Osei-Afoakwa, a retired accountant at the University of Mines, has been commissioned at the Manso-Adubia Health Center.
The new facility, duly supplied with a solar system, marked the 60th birthday of the retired accountant, who also doubles as the Manso-Adubia Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Dr. Osei-Afoakwa explained at the commissioning that the gesture was his personal contribution towards improving the health care from his personal savings and support of his wife and friends in 34 years as a public servant.
He said as the only health facility serving about 20 communities in the area, the need to upgrade the facility to district status dawned on him to complement efforts of the government to meet the health needs of the people.
Mr. Kofi Bosomtwe Yartey, Physician Assistant at the facility, said about 70 to 80 patients visit the facility daily, yet the health centre, which was established 50 years ago, has not been expanded, in terms of facilities and accommodation for both patients and workers.
Nana Kwaku Appia Dankwah, Manso-Adubiahene, pleaded with the government to upgrade the facility to district hospital standard.
He said the upgrading was long overdue, since all other four medical facilities that were built at the same time had all been upgraded.
He said the facility, which was built in 1964, is one of the oldest health facilities in the country, but has remained a health centre without any serious attention being paid to it by successive governments.