Tetteh Quarshie Hospital begs for survival

The Tetteh Quarshie Hospital at Akuapem Mampong in the Eastern Region has been brought to its knees by lack of basic equipment and infrastructure; a situation that is making the facility ineffective in providing some of its critical services.

Basic equipment like X-Ray, sterilization and laundry machines have been left un-serviced, almost a year after it broke down. This compels authorities to refer cases requiring X-ray to the Koforidua Hospital.

Several offices of the Hospital operate from what authorities say are borrowed apartments due to congestion arising out of inadequate infrastructure.

The Hospital was established in 1961 and handed over to government in 1967. In 1998, it was re-equipped but almost two decades on, no major rehabilitation works has been done again, TV3’s Eastern Regional Correspondent has reported.

Superintendent of the Hospital, Dr. Mawuli Gyakubu,who revealed the current condition of the facility to Yvonne, said lack of critical equipment is affecting the smooth operation of the place, which serves the Akuapem ridge area.

He said the current condition of the facility, especially the lack of critical equipment like X-Ray machine put the lives of accident victims who are brought there in danger, as they are not able to immediately check for any possible abnormalities within the body ranging from broken or fractured bones to tumor among others.

Yvonne reports that the Hospital infrastructure itself is in dire need of rehabilitation and expansion, several offices operate in borrowed apartment, creating some congestion.

She said that although the Management acknowledges government’s efforts at resolving their challenges, a lot more has to be done to put it the Hospital back into shape. "Trying as government is, we know they are but still we have need," Dr. Gyakubu said.

He said although there is some form of MOU between government and Philips, the company is unable to service the X-Ray machine, explaining that "should there be any accident in the ridge with fractures and other forms of trauma that we need x-ray machine, we will not be able to assist, we will have to refer”.

He said, “the issue of bed still stands," noting they have made several calls to get some but always the feedback they get is “there are no beds”.

Dr. Gyakubu said although they have an eye specialist, the person drives from 37 in Accra to the Hospital everyday due to lack of accommodation, adding, "I drive from Dawhenya every day because I don't have accommodation”.

He said the pediatrician, pharmacists and other staff drive from Accra to the hospital every day, noting, "This is the situation". He said the hospital lacks in-house banking unit, a unit he explained, could help reduce pilfering in the facility.

Meanwhile, the hospital authorities and other stakeholders have been marking 55 years of the hospitals existence in providing health care to the hundreds of persons In the Akuapem North District of the Eastern Region and beyond.

The stakeholders expressed worry at the devastation of the facility and argued poor maintenance was also a contributing factor and could not fathom how a facility in remembrance of the one who brought cocoa into the country could be allowed to deteriorate.