Tetteh Quarshie Hospital saved from imminent closure

The Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital at Mampong-Akuapem, has been saved from imminent closure due to the breakdown of its only generator.

The Hospital since last Sunday, had stopped handling emergencies and was in the process of transferring blood at the blood bank, insulin, antibiotics and other critical drugs to the Koforidua Regional Hospital, as well as closing down its mortuary due to the unstable power supply when the Akuapem North Municipal Assembly intervened with the donation of a new power generator.

The timely intervention by the Akuapem North District Assembly, has saved the situation, with the provision of a 412 KVA power plant at a cost of GH? 300, 000.00 that can power the entire hospital in the event of a power outage.

Dr Mawuli Kotope Jakobo, the Medical Director of the hospital, who briefed the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said, for some time now, the hospital had been relying on its Generator for the blood bank, laboratory, medical stores, theatres and the mortuaries due to the unstable power supply.

He said, last Sunday, the Generator, which the hospital has used for over 20 years broke down, leaving them with no option than to stop emergency services and close down some of the facilities until the hospital was able to procure a new Generator.

According to Dr Jakobo, he therefore made an SOS call to the assembly and the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to save the hospital from imminent closure.

He thanked the Regional Minister, Mr Antwi-Boasiako sekyere and the Akuapem North Municipal Chief Executive for their prompt response to their distress call and hoped that, the facility would boost healthcare provision at the hospital.

The Regional Minister, Mr Antwi-Boasiako said, the prompt response was because of the importance attached to the hospital due to its strategic location on the Akuapem ridge and announced that, plans are advanced for the Ministry of Health to provide the hospital with four elevators to solve the problem of pregnant women being carried to the labour wards.

He commended the assembly for their swift response, in the face of the numerous responsibilities and challenges they had to deal with.