Severe water shortage hits Korle Bu

Staff and patients of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have warned of dire consequences if the severe water shortage at the hospital is not addressed.

The hospital has faced irregular water supply in the last two months. 150,000 gallons of water is needed daily for the smooth running of the facility but authorities have had to manage with only 7,000 gallons daily.

The water company supplies the hospital three tankers of water daily, but hospital authorities say this is woefully inadequate.

As a result, water is shared amongst departments such as the theatres and emergency and surgical units.

Some nurses of the hospital's surgical unit told Joy News that the situation could bring operations to a standstill.

“It affects our working situation, the workers, the doctors, the nurses; we are all frustrated if there is no water,” said a nurse.

“Even if there is water and there is a delay, we starve the patients. And certain drugs are given to the patients after food; so if the patient hasn't eaten, you can't serve the medication and that complicates matters… so it is very alarming,” another nurse told Joy News reporters.

Patients at the hospital and their relatives are equally concerned about the implications of the water shortage. “Early in the morning, for instance, the children are supposed to be sent to the threatre. And when they get there, they would tell us there is no water,” Dora Nyarko, whose granddaughter is recovering from surgery, said.

According to her, the water shortage is delaying her granddaughter's recovery.

Meanwhile, the Regional Distribution Manager of the Ghana Water Company, Asante Asiedu has denied the health centre is experiencing water shortages.

He told Joy News on Friday that although the water supply company has been experiencing difficulties supplying water, the taps have for some hours now been running.