New Maternity block for Government Hospital- Tarkwa

Tarkwa (W/R) July 13, GNA - A new 40-bed capacity maternity block valued at three billion cedis for the Tarkwa Government Hospital, was inaugurated at a ceremony at Tarkwa on Tuesday.

Gold Fields Ghana Limited (GFGL) spent over two billion cedis to construct the hospital, while the Ministry of Health provided beds and hospital equipment worth one billion cedis.

In addition, various women groups at Tarkwa also donated bed sheets, pillows and curtains, valued at 29 million cedis to the new ward.

Named after GFGL, the ward is made up of two operating theatres, two delivery rooms, two doctor's offices, one labour room, a waiting room, one nurse/midwives office and two main wards. Addressing the ceremony, Maj. (Rtd) Courage Quashigah, Minister of Health, whose address was read on his behalf by Dr. Mrs. Gladys Ashitey, Deputy Minister of Health said, the health of mothers and children, is of prime importance in the growth and development of the nation. He said the government has focused forcibly on safe motherhood and prevention of maternal and child mortality, as one of the national priorities and has also endorsed the millennium development growth, set worldwide.

To achieve these goals, he said, the government has endorsed provision for free maternal and childcare services. Maj Quarshiga said to further ensure that all Ghanaians have access to quality health care the government has embarked on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) under Act 650 of 2003.

He reiterated the importance of the scheme and urged all to grasp this package, which was to ensure quality care to the deprived and the poor.

He said the Wassa West District has been selected as one of the two districts to be provided with a modern hospital. Maj. Quashigah said discussions on the project were far advanced and all the administrative arrangements and loan negotiations have been completed, adding, funds have already been resourced under the African Development Bank (AfDB) 3 project for the construction of the new hospital.

He said land has already been acquired; site plan and other documents have been prepared, thus paving the way for approval of tender and construction works to begin by December this year.

Mr Emmanuel Kwesi Ayensu, Wassa West District Chief Executive (DCE) said the inauguration of the maternity block has come at a time when residents in the district were at the mercy of the poor infrastructure and low human resource level in the hospital.

He said most of the buildings at the hospital were the old structures put up almost a century ago, adding, "currently the hospital has only two medical doctors and one at Prestea hospital, yet these few medical personnel cater for a population of almost 250 thousand. Mr Brendan Walker, the Managing Director of GFGL reiterated that GFGL was committed to be a good co-operate citizen and would work diligently to fulfill its co-operate social responsibility to uplift the living standards of its stakeholder communities.

He recalled that about three months ago, 12 completed projects were inaugurated at some of GFGL's stakeholder communities at a cost of 2.5 billion cedis, adding, " this huge amount spent so far is a clear testimony to the fact that the company was committed to the welfare of its stakeholder communities.

Mr Walker acknowledged the collaboration from the national hospital equipment unit in providing some medical equipment, adding, " we believe that with more of such collaborative relationship and efforts from other sector ministries and government agencies, a lot more project could be undertaken for the citizens in the Wassa West District and the country as a whole.

He said his company considered the culture of maintenance very vital and hoped that such facility would be properly maintained to prolong its life span and therefore entreated those responsible to put up such maintenance exercises.

Ms Gifty Eugenia Kusi, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency, who initiated the project, commended GFGL for the immense support it has given to the hospital.

The MP however, expressed joy over such an achievement saying, if today is set aside for a 13-bed ward to become 40, then " Ebenezer, God has brought us this far."

Nana Kwabena Angu III, Chief of Apinto, who chaired the function on behalf of Osagyefo Kwamina Enimil VI, Paramount Chief of Wassa Fiase Traditional Area commended the MP and GFGL for providing such a magnificent edifice.

He appealed to the Government to open a nurses training college at Tarkwa, adding, Nananom were prepared to release land and give support for the construction of the project. 13 July, 05