Who Is Dr Thomas Anaba ....

..... The Recently Appointed Medical Director Of The Ridge Regional Hospital?

By Stephen Kwabena Attuh (ASK)

Upon the protest against his appointment as Medical Director for the Ridge Regional Hospital, I went out to uncover who Dr Thomas Anaba really is. I wanted to know if he deserved the new appointment or not.

I found out that, not was he given a favour, but, he had really worked and deserves whatever position he has been appointed to.

To start with, Dr Anaba and others, applied to an advertised position, went through interviews and got selected and passed for the position of Medical Director to the Ridge Hospital.

Dr Anaba holds a Masters Degree in Critical Care and Emergencies from the La Sapienza University of Rome, Italy in 2009. He also graduated as a Specialist Anaesthesilogist and Resuscitation from the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences, Havana, Cuba in 2007.

He became a Medical doctor in 2001 after he graduated from the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences, Santa Clara, Cuba.

The Cuban trained doctor is currently a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department, Anaesthesia at the School of Medical and Health Sciences, University for Development Studies positions he held since 2009.

Dr Thomas Anaba is also currently the CEO and Medical Director of Habana Medical Services Tamale.

Dr Anaba did his Clinical Attachment with the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital between October 2001 and January 2002. He became a House Officer at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital from March 2002 to February 2003. He was a Medical Officer between March and October 2003 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Between 2007 and 2008 he was a Specialist Anaesthesilogist and Resuscitation at the Ridge Regional Hospital. Between 2009 and 2012, he was Consultatant Anaesthesilogist and Head of Department Anaesthesia and Critical Care at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

As part of his achievements during these few years of practice, he successfully developed and established a critical care unit for the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

He secured a grant from Rotary International and established an obstetric High Depended Unit for the Tamale Teaching Hospital in 2015.

He had organized and facilitated several training workshops for anaesthetists in northern Ghana and beyond.

He conducted a country wide needs assessment of pulse oximeters for LifeBox Foundation UK, leading to a donation of 320 pulse oximeter to the country by the foundation. This eradicated the lack of this vital monitor from most Ghanaian operation rooms.

Dr Anaba developed the first ever BSc Nurse Anaesthesia Programme in Africa. This programme was approved by the National Accreditation Board and had been rolled out at the University for Development Studies since 2012. This programme had come to resolve a huge national problem; created a clear career pathway for nurse anaesthetists in Ghana who hitherto had no opportunity for career progression in the specialty.

He established and manages a private clinic HABANA MEDICAL SERVICES in Tamale.

He won the International Award in Excellence and Business Prestige in the Gold Category at the International Quality Submit, New York in 2015.

He is a celebrated Humanitarian Hero by LifeBox Foundation for 2105 in UK for his contribution in the development of anaesthesia in the world.

He again succeeded in getting Duke University School of Nursing and UDS to sign MOU to assist the department of anaesthesia which rolled out the first BSc Nurse Anaesthesia Distance Programme in Africa. This allows practicing nurse anaesthetist pursue the programme without abandoning their facilities.

He also collaborated with John Hopkins University as country local coordinator to conduct a train-the-trainer on assessment and training exercise on universal precaution adherence in August 2015, Tamale.

He received a ‘World Leader Business Person Award’ from The World Confederation of Business, August 2015 in Houston, Texas.

Contributions and other scholary activities of Dr Anaba include; contribution to the Policy and Guidelines for Hospital Accident and Emergency Services in Ghana.

He also contributed to the National Referral Policy Guidelines for the Ministry of Health. Dr contributed to the Guidelines for Public Health Units in hospitals, Ministry of Health.

He developed the Preoperative Anaesthesia Assessment Protocol for the Tamale Teaching Hospital. He equally designed the Anaesthesia Monitoring Chart for the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

He also contributed in the transformation of the Tamale Regional Hospital to a Teaching Hospital and also played a significant role in the expansion of its infrastructure.

He is the chairman of the interview panel for selection of candidates into the BSc Nurse Anaesthesia programme for University for Development Studies, School of Medicine and Health Sciences since 2012.

Thomas Anaba was and is also a member of many boards and committees. He is a member of the Academic Board, University for Development Studies.

He is also a member of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences Board a position he held since 2012.

Dr Anaba was a member of the WHO Global Initiative for Emergency and Essential Surgical Care. Anaesthesiology Working Group.

He was a member of the Tamale Airport Emergency Committee between 2010 and 2013

He was also a member of the Ministerial Committee on Emergencies for the Ministry of Health between 2011 and 2013.

He is also a Board Member, ‘Nazareth Home for God’s Children’ Northern Region.

He is also a member of other professional bodies. He is a member of the Ghana Medical Association. He equally is an Associate member of the Caribbean Medical Association.

Dr Anaba is an Associate member, Cuban Society of Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation.

He is a member of the Ghana Anaesthetist Society since 2007 as well as a fellow of the Cuban College of Anaesthesiology and Resuscitation.

Finally, he is an Associate member of the Association of Anaesthetist of Great Britain And Ireland.

Dr Anaba had been instrumental in the organization, participation and facilitation of many workshop programmes since 2006.

Dr Anaba's clinic was among the three short listed health facilities in Ghana for the 2014 SME Awards organized by the Ministry of Trade.

Out of his busy schedules, he has given himself to serving his people. He is currently the Assembly man for the Garu-Tempane District Assembly.

This year, his clinic Habana Medical Service has just been selected as a Quality Ambassador for the period 2016 to 2018 by the Quality Committee of BID and BID Group One, Geneva.

Dr Anaba, was one of the heros of doctors who defied the strike action declared by the Ghana Medical Association of which he is an active member over non-agreement over conditions of service and stood by the oath he took to save lives at the Ridge Hospital.

His appointment comes as no surprise looking at the work he had done and his enviable record since joining the medical profession.

What else does he lack for the position especially having gone through the process of applying for an advertised position and getting appointed upon coming out successful?