One of the bungalows at Kyebi
THE Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, and his wife, Angela through their “Ken & Angela Foundation” under the auspices of the Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has handed over a two storey doctors bungalows to the Kyebi Government Hospital in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The buildings, including three two-bedroom flats and three single room self-contained are meant to solve the accommodation challenges that compel many newly posted doctors to turn down employment in such areas.
The Kyebi Government Hospital has for a very long time been finding it difficult to get accommodation for medical doctors and other health workers posted to the district and as a result, the Ken and Angela Foundation decided to start the project for the health personnel to enable them to provide essential health services to the people.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony of the ‘Osagyefuo Amoatia Doctors Flat’, Ahene Nanahene Barimah Kwaku said quality healthcare is a fundamental requirement of every civilized society.
He also said quality healthcare is anchored on the kind of dignity and respect society gives to healthcare personnel coupled with availability of medical equipment, adding that the lack of accommodation has been a hindrance to quality healthcare in the municipality.
Barima Kwaku Dua believes the provision of the doctors flat will help reduce the accommodation challenges of the Kyebi Government Hospital and ensure quality healthcare for the people.
Speaking on behalf of the Okyenhene, the Akyem Ahweneasehene Barimah Gyasi Kodie said, the Okyenhene has facilitated several development projects in the jurisdiction.
He said the handing over of the doctor’s flat will end the syndrome of no accommodation which scares many medical officers away from taking appointments in the area.
The Medical Director at the Kyebi Government Hospital, Dr. Nii Darko Duodu, who received the keys on behalf of the hospital, said until the project, two out of the four medical officers are housed in temporary accommodation outside Kyebi whilst the dental officer has not started work due to housing problems.
According to him, another medical staff is still struggling with accommodation, making their work very difficult, but added that in spite of the challenges, personnel had dedicated themselves to duty.
He called on stakeholders to help them put up a staff village on a 10-acre plot donated to the hospital by the Okyeman Council to bring a lasting solution to the accommodation problems.
From Daniel Bampoe, Kyebi