Traditional Council releases land for modern hospital at Nkoranza

Nkoranza (B/A), Feb. 15 GNA - Nkoranza Traditional Council has relea= sed 150 acres of land for the construction of a hospital at Nkoranza. The project would be located along the Nkoranza-Ejura highway and a planning committee has been set up by the Nkoranza South District Assembly to initiate plans towards the execution of the project. Mr. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Nkoranza South District Chief Executive, told the Ghana News Agency that the planning committee would supervise the resource mobilization and also monitor work on the facility. He said the Assembly would organise citizens of the area both home and abroad and seek support from the Ministry of Health, philanthropists and donor agencies to raise funds for the commencement of the project within th= e year.

The DCE added that the facility, to be known as Nkoransaman Hospital, would relieve the people of the problems they faced at the only hospital in the town, Saint Theresa's Catholic Hospital. The District, with a population of about 114,227, made up of about 57,683 females and 56,543 males has a doctor/patient ratio of 1:38,076, Mr Agyekum said. The DCE noted that because of the pressure on Saint Theresa's Hospit= al, which served as the only referral hospital for about 15 health centres in the area, some people at Nkoranza have had to travel to Techiman and Sunyan= i to seek medical care. Mr. Agyekum said the proposed hospital would offer primary and secondary health service to the District and its environs and would serve a= s a research centre for medical practitioners.

He commended the Omanhene of Nkoranza Traditional Area, Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom IV, and his elders for allocating the land for the project. Mr. Agyekum appealed to Nkoranza citizenry resident abroad to consider the plight of the people and support the project, which he said would enhance the accelerated development of the District.

In another development Africa Libera, an Italian NGO, has provided funds for the construction of a clinic at Nkoranza. Mr. Marino Malaguti, President of the NGO who is married to Madam Christiana Fofie, a citizen of Busunya in Nkoranza North District, initiate= d the project.

At the inaugural ceremony at Nkoranza over the week-end, Mr. Malaguti said that Africa Libera had more than 200 youth determined to support developing countries to move forward.

The youth have the vision and slogan that 93All people are one", si= nce God created mankind in His own image and there was the need for people in developed countries to assist developing ones.

Mr. Malaguti said the provision of the health facility was to ensure that the people of Nkoranza would enjoy the necessary health service. Mr. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, Nkoranza South District Chief Executive, commended Africa Libera and other donor agencies supporting the government in a number of development programmes to enhance the living standards of th= e people. He recalled the assistance of Africa Libera in a water project at Asonkwaa, a farming community in the district and also in establishing an internet caf=E9 at Nkoranza Technical Institute. The DCE urged health personnel at the facility to offer selfless and dedicated services to patients. The Nkoranza South District Director of Health Services, Madam Salamat= u Ibrahim, was full of praise to Africa Libera for initiating the project to promote the health needs of the people and to complement the efforts of the government.

Madam Ibrahim announced that family planning services, child welfare clinics and immunization activities would be provided at the clinic and asked the people to patronize the facility.

Nana Okofo Agyapong III, Adontenhene of Nkoranza who presided at the function, paid special tribute to Madam Fofie for encouraging the husband t= o initiate the project at Nkoranza.