Tamale Teaching Hospital begins investigations into fire

The Tamale Teaching Hospital has begun investigations to ascertain the amount of drugs and equipment destroyed in a fire outbreak at its main medical store Wednesday morning.

Various drugs and theatre equipment were burnt in the blaze.

Joy News correspondent, Hasmin Mohammed who was at the scene of the fire incident reports that several equipment used in the laboratory to test for malaria were destroyed in the inferno.

Medicines, including those used in the treatment of malaria were also consumed by the fire, he noted.

Officials of the hospital and officers from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) are presently at the scene trying to salvage what is left from the fire remains.

The fire service says it has already begun investigations to ascertain the real cause of the fire.

Northern Regional Head of GNFS Douglas Quaynoo, at a press briefing said the cause of the fire was not immediately known but a lack of adequate ventilation and the chemical composition of drugs in the store could have triggered it.

Chief executive Officer of the hospital, Dr Proper Akambo, said even though some materials have been lost, the hospital will not be affected by the loss.

He said the real value of what has been destroyed in the fire will be made known.

Dr Akambo said doctors and nurses as well as all medical staff are still on duty and services run by the hospital have not ceased.