La General Hospital appeals to benefactors over cholera

Senior Administrator of the La General Hospital Phillip Afeti Korto has appealed to benevolent Ghanaians to come to the aid of the hospital as it battles to contain overwhelming numbers of cholera patients.

Since the outbreak of the disease in July, the Hospital has recorded 914 cases so far with the last 29 recorded between Thursday evening and Friday morning, Mr Korto disclosed on TV3’s Midday Live on Friday, August 22.

He stated that as a result of the increasing numbers of cases, the Hospital’s facilities are being overstretched.

He said the cholera bay, which was originally built to cater for 13 patients now takes beyond that.

Its former structure of a tent has been collapsed into an open shed, Mr Korto revealed.

The Hospital's out-patient department (OPD) has also been converted into a ward.

“That is how come we are nursing some of the patients on benches,” Mr Korto told TV3’s Wendy Laryea.

“If benevolent organizations will help us we will be so glad,” he said, adding that disposable blood, for instance, is running short.

He was, however, grateful to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Office of the First Lady for reaching out to patients at the Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Korle Bu Polyclinic has issued a warning to other government facilities not to refer cholera cases to it as facilities are being overstretched.

Abigail Owusu, the Disease Control Officer, said the Hospital is open to referrals from private facilities, nonetheless.

She also called for assistance as things seem to be getting out of hand.