Asanteman Assoc. of Chicago adopts KATH Maternity Ward

Asanteman Association of Chicago and Midwest (AACM) has officially adopted A2 Ward at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), and also donated 64 pieces of brand new Hospital Equipment (2 multifunction obstetric beds, 15 manual crank beds, 15 waterproof mattresses, 15 bedside floor cabinets and 17 IV poles) about $30,000 worth. The event took place on Monday, Nov 7, 2016 at the A2 Ward premise at KATH with the ceremony very much patronized by some highly distinguished KATH officials like Dr. Joseph Akpaloo (Chief Executive Officer), Dr. Baffour Awuah (Medical Director), Mrs. Patience Yeboah Ampong (Director of Nursing Services), Rev. Ralph Obeng (Asst. Director of Pharmacy), Mr. George K. Tetteh (Director of Administration), Mrs. Emmaline Ann (Asst. Director of Finance), Prof. Archer Turpin (Head of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Directorate), Prof. Baffour Opoku (Head of Clinicals/Obstetrics & Gynaecology Directorate), Prof. Addo Yobo (Head of Child Health Directorate), Miss Margaret Ama Obeng (Principal Nursing Officer/A2 Ward), Mr. Atta Tweneboa Jnr (Business Manager of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Directorate) and Mrs. Abena Barnie Nyarko (Pharmacy Manager of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Directorate).

Representing Asanteman Association of Chicago and Midwest (AACM) at the ceremony were Mr. Victor Sakyi-Ntow Boafo (Secretary for AACM, Chairman for Events Planning Committee) and Mr. Sadik Bosempem Aboagye (Assistant Secretary). Both AACM and KATH teams unveiled the installed plate at the entrance of A2 Ward following a prayer by Rev. Ralph Obeng.

Mr. Boafo mentioned that this kind gesture is just one of AACM's many social responsibilities to help our local communities back home. He pleaded with the KATH management and staff to ensure that these gifts are well kept, maintained and utilized for their intended purposes. He said AACM is already planning another Kente Dance event in 2017, and proceeds will be used to initially replace the remaining 19 old beds at the 34-bed capacity A2 Ward. He projected A2 Ward would be fully furnished with brand new beds and matching bedside cabinets by 2018, as well as looking into addressing issues with side wards like babies nursery room, ultrasound unit and others within the facility. On the contrary, Mr. Boafo emphasized that all these expensive donations obtained from hard earned monies would be much appreciated in the hearts of our donors if the current ones are well kept.

Dr. Joseph Akpaloo (CEO), thanked AACM and the entire Chicago Ghanaian Community for the kind gesture and begged for more of such philanthropic visits to help put smiles on the faces of patients which lifts their spirits up. Prof. Cornelius Turpin (HOD), also thanked AACM for adopting one of the wards under his department as he officially took over the donated items, and symbolically received one of the arms of the donated Multifunction Obstetric Beds passed on to him from Mr. Boafo. Both AACM representatives had earlier visited KATH on Saturday, Nov 5, 2016 and spent the entire day working with the KATH Maintenance Department to unpack and assembled the shipped consignment from China.

In conclusion, Mr. Boafo used the opportunity to shower praises on AACM for carrying out this philanthropic project, and also expressed his gratitude to the organization for entrusting the project under his custodianship. He added that the project wouldn't have been successful if it weren't for the following; Nana Addai Baffour (Asantefuohene of AACM), Nana Abena Amponsah (Asantefuohemaa of AACM), the Executive Board of AACM, the Elders of AACM, the General Membership of AACM, the Events Planning Committee of AACM, and finally the entire Chicago Ghanaian Community for their support during AACM's 2015 Kente Dance to raise funds as ground breaker for this A2 Ward Adoption and Hospital Equipment Donation. He also expressed appreciation to Miss Ophelia Birago (Ghana Library Board) who remotely worked with A2 Ward staff and contractors who painted the ward and reconstructed as well as demolition the two 1955 outmoded hand washing sinks. He also thanked Mrs. Mary Osei-Asare (World Vision International) who contributed with great logistics from her work experience in handling NGO donations of high magnitude.