By Ewoenam Kpodo
Aflao (VR), Nov 20, GNA – Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu South has commissioned a paediatric emergency unit at the Ketu South Municipal Hospital (KSMH) to provide critical care for children up to 12 years old.
The newly constructed air-conditioned facility comes with ten beds (beds and cots), four vital signs monitors, five wall fitted oxygen flow meters, oxygen concentrators, medical suction machines, medical refrigerator and computers among other ancillaries to provide quality and more focused care to young clients.
It also houses a patient washroom and bathroom and, a staff restroom, washroom and bathroom to provide decency for clients and create the right ambience for staff respectively.
Madam Gomashie, said the commissioning of the facility resulted from her pledge to impact the general well-being of her constituents and thanked Dr Alphonse Makafui Dzakpasu, the Medical Superintendent of KSMH and Mr David Agbokpe, the Municipal Director of Health Services, who pushed, supported and assisted her with her vision.
She disclosed that her commitment to improving healthcare in the area started in 2017 with a donation of four brand new beds to the hospital, eliciting a comment from the then Medical Superintendent wishing individuals and groups to emulate her example.
“I have since 2017, ensured I bring something to this hospital every year. From bringing Christmas gifts, collaborating with the hospital and Lifetime Wells, a non-governmental
organisation to give free eye care including surgeries, organising free medical outreach programmes, donating medical supplies worth thousands of Ghana Cedis to sharing of sanitary towels to the clients of the hospital.”
Madam Gomashie talked about her other contributions in the sector including rebuilding the Anoenu Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound to a clinic status with maternity services.
She had also supported in providing a mechanised borehole, medical supplies, as well as ongoing works at the Hatsuko CHPS compound, with plans to extend similar support to the Dogbekoe Health Post.
She expressed gratitude to former First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama for supporting her vision with items including 10 boxes of gloves, stainless steel trolley, vital signs monitor, infant phototherapy unit, two boxes of syringe, baby scale, two boxes of shoe cover, stethoscope set, two baby coats, two baby beds, four beds, two boxes of surgical gown and four baby cribs.
Additionally, Madam Gomashie received some undisclosed supplies of EFPAC tablets from a pharmaceutical company which she presented to the hospital.
The MP assured her people of a brighter future and her resolve to continue investing in renovating old structures and continuing abandoned projects in Ketu South and advised them to take their health seriously by seeking medical attention when unwell.
Dr Dzakpasu, the Medical Superintendent thanked the MP for virtually funding the project single-handedly noting, saying the specialised facility would save lives of young clients facing severe or life-threatening medical conditions like respiratory emergencies, severe infections, traumatic injuries, cardiac emergencies, surgical emergencies and other acute conditions.
“Until now, the absence of a dedicated paediatric emergency facility meant that our children were being treated alongside adult patients, which further exposes them unnecessarily to avoidable infections and leaves them battling with adult patients for attention from medical staff.”
Dr Chrysantus Kubio, the Volta Regional Director of Health Service said the establishment of the unit was timely as it came at a time when access to specialised emergency care for children was a pressing need.
“Quality healthcare delivery does not end with infrastructure… As we celebrate the commissioning of this unit, let us also reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that it is fully equipped, adequately staffed, and maintained to meet the highest standards of care,” he reminded.
Miss Celestine Dzandu, the Acting Director In-Charge of the Children’s Ward at the hospital spoke to Ghana News Agency saying, the new facility, a great improvement on the initial three beds dedicated to children at the adult accident and emergency unit would not only enhance their capacity to manage paediatric emergencies but also provide quality care to children.
GNA