KATH Accident, Emergency Centre takes shape

THE Largest Accident and Emergency Centre (A&E Centre), ever to be
constructed in the country, is nearing completion at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi.

The world-class 200-bed A&E Centre, scheduled to be completed by July this year, consists of operating theatres, accident units, consulting rooms, X-ray units, a pharmacy, recovery wards, a mortuary, as well as a helipad, where helicopters can take off and land.

Installation of equipment for the 55 million Euro project, which is considered to be a big landmark, at KATH, will be the first of its kind in the West Africa sub-region.

The construction of a new ultra-modern Pathology Centre, with a 200 body capacity mortuary, was also completed in 2007, as part of the A&E Project.

The project comes to supplement other health delivery facilities, including 20 government hospitals in the region.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, management, in collaboration with sister institutions like EDVICE of Israel, University of Ulm in Germany, Newscastle Upon Tyne in the U.K. and the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons (GCPS), intends to make it a leading centre for quality care in accident, emergency and disaster management training, and research in the sub region.

He hinted that plans were also well afoot, to start an emergency nursing training at the centre, whilst discussions are being held with the GCPS, to start the training of emergency medicine, and critical care, for physicians from the membership to the fellowship levels.

Since 2001, infrastructural development at the hospital has been phenomenal.

KATH, one of the largest referral hospitals in the country, has benefited from a number of development projects over the last few years.

The polyclinic at KATH has been rehabilitated, at the cost of GH¢43,468,182, to meet international standards.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Emmanuel Kofi Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, disclosed at the Regional People's Forum recently, that a huge investment had been made by the government, to improve upon the health service infrastructure, and expand health service delivery in the region.

He announced that the first phase of a 32-block of flats, has been completed at KATH, at a cost of GH¢29,718,217.60, and that the second phase, also consisting 32 flats, and estimated to cost GH¢650,000, is 85% complete.

A block of 49 flats, out of which 24 have been completed and in use, is almost completed, for use by doctors.

Another maternity and children's block, which will help reduce the pressure on the current maternity, is under construction at KATH and 25% complete.

Funds are being seriously sought for the substantial completion of the Children and Maternity blocks, which was started in 1974, by the end of the year.

The project, being funded by the government, comprises children and maternity wards, Out-Patient Departments, and offices for doctors, among others, meant to stimulate inflows of medical tourists towards the objective of becoming a Centre of Excellence, by September this year.

Referring to the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Regional Minister said a total of 1,816,65, representing 40% of the projected population of 4,565,683 for Ashanti, have been registered.

He said 1,608,488, which is about 89% of the registered persons, are ID card bearers, and currently accessing free medical care, from a total of 251 accredited public facilities, and private health providers, across region.