Provide Swedru Hospital with mortuary - Medical Superintendent

Agona Swedru (C/R), Jan 15, GNA - The Authorities of the Agona Swedru Government Hospital has appealed to the government and the Agona District Assembly to provide the Hospital with a mortuary. Dr Dzifa G. Damanya, Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Agona Swedru, said the provision of the facility would stop the practice of dead bodies being kept in corridors and other places at the hospital. He explained that that some patients died on arrival while some also on admission pass away and the bodies had to be kept before the arrival of their relatives.

Dr Damanya recalled an instance where a patient sent to the hospital by a "Good Samaritan" died on arrival and the people left the body on the entrance with an excuse that they were going to inform the relatives and never retuned.

He said the situation of bodies being kept on corridors and other places had put fear and panic into the patients and visitors to the hospital.

Dr Damanya said appeals to the District Assembly and two MPs for area had not yielded any results, adding that, the District Chief Executive in a reply to a request for the facility directed him to contact the Parliamentarians to use their common fund for the project. The Medical Superintendent commended the government for constructing dental clinic but appealed for the provision of accommodation for a Resident Doctor.

He said renovation of the main ward had been completed while a new male ward had reached roofing level, adding that, beds and other equipment had to be provided.

Dr Damanya appealed to citizens of the area, Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), corporate bodies and philanthropists to go to the aid of the Hospital.

Mr John Agyabeng, MP for Agona East, when contacted by the GNA said the share of the Common Fund of the Parliamentarians was not enough for the project and stated that the District Assembly should take the initiative to attract their support.