At 68 years, Ghana’s second largest teaching hospital offers little comfort, safety, and hope for patients who come seeking medical care.
The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has been left in a dilapidated state due to decades of neglect, making delivery of quality health care a daunting task for health professionals.
Leaked roofs, rusty beds, cracked walls, broken windows are just a few of the distressing sights that greet patients and their families when they enter the hospital.
“Everywhere in that old block leaks. You have service lines being badly exposed, a fan that is working but there is a leakage directly under it, the washrooms are not accessible, the windows are such that it is impossible to fix mosquito nets and what it means is that the patient comes with one ailment but is likely to leave with malaria due to frequent mosquito bites. I don’t think that is right”, Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Professor Dr Otchere Addai-Mensah disclosed.
The facility receives referrals from 12 out of the 16 regions of Ghana.
“Of 10 ambulances that move, 6 to 7 come to KATH. So the facility is stretched and over used. It has gotten to a time where there is the need to salvage the situation now or most blocks risk closing down in some years to come because of disrepair”, Prof Dr Addai-Mensah warned.
To ensure that KATH continues to provide a more functional and efficient hospital environment that promotes healing, the Asantehene is moblising a 10-million-dollar fund to give the facility a major facelift.
“When people who even work here have the right environment to work, they will be able to deliver better than having this hostile environment to work. Also, a conducive environment enhances the healing process and recovery rates. As citizens, we must rise to the task and ensure we save and heal KATH”, Chairman of Heal Komfo Anokye project, Samuel Adu Boakye stated.
The project dubbed ‘Heal Komfo Anokye’ is one of the legacy projects to mark the Asantehene’s 25th anniversary.
It will see to the complete renovation of all the old blocks in addition to providing the needed resources to provide a safe and conducive healing environment by mid 2024.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II will, on Friday November 10, launch the fund-raising event to mobilise the 10 million dollars from corporate organizations, institutions, and individuals across the length and breadth of the country.