First Phase Of Tamale Hospital Rehabilitation Completed

The first phase of the 54 Million Euro expansion and rehabilitation works on the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) has been completed.

The five-storey magnificent new structure known as the Ward “E” contains an Accident and Emergency Department, Surgical Theatres, Maternity ward, Neo-natal and Intensive Care units and Radiology and CT Scan.

Also completed and in use are Wards “L” and “M” which are the Mothers’ Hostel and Children’s’ blocks respectively.

The President, John Mills, cut the sod for the commencement of work on the project in April 2010. With the completion of works on Ward “E”, patients would be evacuated to the new block to pave way for the commencement of rehabilitation works on the dilapidated main Tower Block that was constructed in 1974.

The second phase that involves rehabilitation also includes a connection,new entrance building ,construction and refurbishment of other ancillary structures. It is supposed to be completed and handed over in November this year.

Receiving the keys to the new facility, the Minister of Health, Alban Bagbin, announced that his outfit would be receiving a $267 Million worth of equipment this year for distribution to major hospitals in the country. It includes a component for the three new theatres of the TTH.

According to him, the government had also entered into an agreement with its Cuban counterpart to provide 50 medical specialists to augment the staff of the TTH and also support the training of medical students of both the University for Development Studies (UDS) and that of the University of Cape Coast.

He further indicated that construction works on a housing project for the staff of the hospital was also in progress while the perennial water shortage experienced at the hospital was being addressed. He added that, “a contract for the supply and installation of 5MVA 34.5/11Kv bulk power supply with a sub-station within the hospital has been awarded, and was expected to be completed by the end of November this year.”

The minister said after the completion of the entire rehabilitation and expansion works of the TTH in November, the hospital’s bed capacity would be increased to 600. He, however, gave the assurance that subsequent expansion works in future would raise it to 1000 bed facility.

“This would enable us to train and retain the doctors from the medical school to work in this part of the country for which reason I would entreat Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in this area to assist by sponsoring students from their respective districts to the medical school.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the TTH, Dr Ken Sagoe, expressed the hope that the government would continue to support the hospital to live up to its vision as the Maternal Child Health Centre of Excellence in the country.

He thanked the government for honouring its promise and gave a pledge to take care of the news structures and facilities at the hospital but indicated that “we cannot achieve this without the active support of staff patients and visitors.

The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, said the realisation of the project was in fulfilment of the government’s “Better Ghana Agenda” and therefore, called on the people to massively renew the President’s mandate to continue with his vision of providing more development projects in every nook and cranny of the country.

He commended the management and staff of the hospital for their hard work and dedication over the years in the face of the mounting challenges they encountered in the discharge of their daily duties.

The Board chairman for the hospital, Dr Iddrisu Mutawakilu, also expressed appreciation to the government for concretising its vision of providing quality and affordable health care for the people by the provision of the new infrastructure. He pledged the board’s determination to work in partnership with all stakeholders to improve on the working environment at the hospital.