IGP visits Police Hospital

Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, Inspector General of Police (IGP) on Tuesday toured the Police Hospital which has been receiving an overflow of patients as a result of the strike action by members of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).

The IGP, accompanied by Brigadier General Dr Juswant Manty Wadwani (rtd), Medical Director of the Police Hospital and other officials of the police administration visited and interacted with patients at the maternity ward, the Out Patient Department, children’s ward, doctor’s waiting areas and Hospital Annex Block B.

Grace Herman, in charge of the maternity ward, noted that though there is a shift system in place medical officers are compelled to stay on even after they are done with their shift.

She said 72 patients had been received at the ward by mid day and 42 deliveries had been recorded out of which 24 people have been treated and sent home.

Dr Amo Mensah, specialist gynecologist who was attending to an expectant mother when the team toured the labour ward noted that the pressure at the ward was too much. “I feel for the patients. Though it’s been overwhelming we are trying our best,” he said.

Mr Alhassan promised the Police administration’s commitment to “do everything to support the hospital to mitigate some of the challenges” being experienced as a result of the strike action by doctors in public hospitals.

At the office of Dr Iddi Mussah, Urology Specialist, who had been at post since the previous day, the IGP expressed appreciation for the commitment of the medical and paramedical staff during such trying times.

“We appreciate our hard working staff for working under the circumstances. We hope it would be over soon and we can go back to business as usual.

But we should be grateful that we have the opportunity to serve. As Police we have the mandate to protect and save lives.”

The IGP also toured an emergency facility erected by the hospital to make room for extra patients.

The air-conditioned tent facility has a capacity to admit 10 patients at a time with a working area for medical staff though there was no provision for a place of convenience at the time of visit, managers of the hospital noted that it worked like any other ward.

“I know you are not used to working in tent. But as it is said necessity is the mother of inventions and your innovations and resilience has been good.

We must carry this to other units of the Police service. We are to solve problems and not complain about our challenges,” said the IGP while interacting with the medical officials in the tent.

Later the IGP told journalists he was impressed with the initiative undertaken by the Police Hospital since the crisis.