Dignitaries officially launching the anniversary with cake cutting
Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has iterated the government’s commitment to retooling the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) with new infrastructure and equipment to make it stay ahead of competition within the West African sub-region.
At the launch of the 100th anniversary of KBTH in Accra, the sector minster in a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Minister of health, Tina Mensah, said the government has proven its obligation with several ongoing infrastructural projects.
“Already completed are the reconstructed Fevers Unit and the new Infectious Disease Centre which were initiated during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Another project which was on the drawing board since 2005 is the 110-bed Urology and Nephrology Centre of Excellence which is due to be completed before the end of December this year,” he said.
Mr. Agyeman-Manu further noted that the sod has been cut for the construction of a 400-bed 13 story Women’s Hospital valued at 145 million Euros as well as Diabetes Centre Rehabilitation Project which is at the level of completion.
He indicated that the listed projects and many others are being provided in Korle Bu to enable it continue to play a leading role in providing advanced healthcare to Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians alike.
Mr Agyeman-Manu further noted that by default, Korle Bu derives a decent number of patient traffic from other countries within the West African sub region because of the expertise of the well trained personnel and specialized facilities.
He stressed that a continuous upgrade of infrastructure and equipment will enable Korle Bu to continue attracting international patients with the means to pay for specialised services.
He also urged the Board and Management to fashion out strategies to tap into the potential of making Korle Bu the true hub of medical tourism.
KBTH Board Chair, Dr. David Nkansah Dwamena, said the hospital has already begun the introduction of kidney transplant services by its local team of surgeons, nephrologist and other professionals.
“In this respect, the board is supporting management to secure the necessary legislative framework to formalize transplantation services in the country.
We will also support the introduction of other services and procedures through further training of our staff that will make it needless for Ghanaians to travel to other countries for medical care,” he said.
He therefore called on Parliament and other agencies to speed up the request for the passage of the law on tissue donation, harvesting and storage of various organs that will save the lives of thousands of Ghanaians who are sick and in need of help.
KBTH CEO, Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah, said in spite of the resources the government is providing for new infrastructure, there is still the need for the support of corporate bodies and philanthropic individuals to complement the effort of the government.
He said as part of the year long anniversary celebration, the hospital will launch an ‘Adopt a Ward Initiative” for philanthropic corporate bodies and individuals to support the hospital by adopting and maintaining some of the facilities.
“I therefore wish to invite Corporate Ghana and individual philanthropists to join us by putting your shoulders to the wheel to place Korle Bu on a higher pedestal.
There are already a number of corporate bodies who have adopted and are maintaining some of our wards,” he said.
He also commended previous and current staff of the hospital for their dedication and hard work over the past 100 years.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri