Lifenet International, a non-governmental organisation has equipped two health facilities in the Volta region which were in dire need of support to improve the quality of the health service provided in their respective areas.
The two facilities are St. Francis Clinic, Saviefe Agorkpo (Ho West District), and St. George’s Polyclinic, Liati (Afadjato South District) both under the Catholic Health Services in the Volta Region.
At a brief ceremony on the premises of St Francis Clinic, they both received a refrigerator, delivery beds, drip stands, microscopes, and suction machines, among others; running into several thousands of Ghana cedis.
With a combined OPD attendance of over 10,000 annually, the equipment donated will make a huge impact on residents and operations of the facilities, the Country Director of Lifenet International, Idris Buabeng stressed.
He said the donation is part of the organization’s agenda to transform healthcare in Africa by ensuring people get access to quality health care while health facilities become sustainable.
Another area that they have invested in is the capacity of health workers to ensure global standard management processes and the use of medical equipment and other resources.
Mr. Buabeng explained that ensuring quality health care is not just reliant on having the equipment and logistics, but largely on having personnel who are well trained and fit for the job.
Mr. Hanson Torde the Ho Diocesan Health Director who received the items on behalf of the two health facilities thanked the benefactors and noted that the equipment will contribute to the agenda to transform St Francis into a Polyclinic and St George’s into a Hospital.
He explained that all St Francis needs at the moment is a theatre and accommodation for Doctors, Nurses, Midwives, and other critical staff to make that dream a reality; considering that about seven communities benefit from the facility.
St George which also serves about five communities in Ghana and two others in the Republic of Togo also needs infrastructure forwards, theatres, and accommodation to be upgraded into a hospital.
He said the Catholic Church is ready to partner with the government, NGOs like Lifenet, philanthropists, and donor partners to make the hospital dream a reality because it will save time, lives, and money in such hard-to-reach communities.
Mr. Torde appealed to the staff of the facilities to take good care of equipment to extend its lifespan. He also appealed to the Chiefs and community members to be receptive and supportive of health workers posted to the facilities.
Mr. Godwin Keteku, the Administrator of St. Francis Clinic while thanking the benefactors on behalf of the two facilities stressed that the donation was timely and pleaded for the gesture to be emulated by other organizations, individuals, and groups. He promised the equipment will be put to good use.
From Fred Duodu, Saviefe (k.duodu@yahoo.com)