Kumasi, Dec. 17, GNA – The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), the second largest health facility in the country, made some significant improvements across all areas of operations, especially in the area of infrastructure development in 2021.
Work on the construction of a new Maternity and Children’s block project saw significant progress with the 138.50 million euros project, now at the second floor of the seven-floor designed edifice, with about 20 percent of the civil works completed.
Dr Oheneba Owusu-Danso, the Chief Executive of KATH, made this known at the annual thanksgiving service, best staff awards and joint staff reception of the hospital in Kumasi.
He said the Two million, two hundred thousand Ghana Cedi Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Centre, funded through the hospital’s Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to provide ultra-specialist fertility services to the public had reached advanced stages of completion.
This, he said, was expected to be commissioned latest by the second quarter of next year.
He said the establishment of the Laparoscopy Surgery Centre being set up with the support of the Korean Foundation for International Health (KOFIH) to provide pinhole or minimally invasive surgical services to the public and training of health professionals, was also progressing steadily and was expected to be fully operational by March next year.
Dr Owusu-Danso said the comprehensive renovation of the A1 theatre to provide two operating rooms and recovery ward for the conduct of paediatric surgeries has also been completed at the cost of GH₵194,883.010.
The five million Ghana Cedi 196-bed patients’ relatives hostel project being executed under a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement, has also reached the roofing stage with the expected date of completion being June 2022, Dr. Owusu-Danso stated.
Dr. Owusu-Danso announced that the hospital’s Board had approved the release of GH₵954,000.00 as an end of year get together for all the 4,769 members of staff of the hospital.
Nineteen (19) longest serving members of staff across all the professional classes were recognised and honoured.
They received certificates and double-decker refrigerators.
In addition, 16 category winners independently assessed by a committee of their peers, were also awarded for distinguishing themselves in their various fields during the year.
Dr. Moses Siaw Frimpong, who was adjudged the overall best staff, received a certificate, citation and GH₵15,000.00.
The 1st runner up, Emmanuel Kwasi Afriyie, also received a certificate, citation and GH₵10,000.00, and Shadrack Kwakye, the 2nd runner up also received a certificate, citation and GH₵5,000.00.
Also special awards were given to the Electronic Medical System (EMS) Implementation Committee who were instrumental in the successful execution of the hospital’s computerization project.
Dr. Owusu-Danso expressed gratitude to individuals and organizations who contributed in diverse ways towards making the 2021 awards ceremony possible.
He advised the general public to strictly observe the safety protocols ahead of this year’s yuletide including regular washing of hands with soap under running water, wearing of nose masks and keeping the appropriate distance from each other.
Dr. Owusu-Danso congratulated all the award winners for giving out their best for the hospital and the patients, and was hopeful that other staff members would be motivated by the tangible and public recognition to excel at their various work places to enhance the quality of care to the public.
GNA