By Michael Foli Jackidy
Ho (V/R), March 13, GNA – The MTN Ghana Foundation has commissioned a GH¢15.4 million state-of-the-art Accident and Emergency (A&E) Centre at the Ho Teaching Hospital, to enhance emergency healthcare delivery in the Volta Region.
The facility, which was officially handed over to the hospital at a ceremony, is expected to significantly strengthen the hospital’s capacity to manage trauma cases, sudden illnesses and other life-threatening emergencies.
Mr James Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister, who attended the ceremony, commended the MTN Ghana Foundation for what he described as a transformational investment in the region’s healthcare system.
He noted that the project represented a major milestone in improving access to quality healthcare services in the region.
“This investment is a landmark achievement that will significantly advance healthcare delivery in the Volta Region. Strengthening critical healthcare services is essential to our development agenda, and this intervention aligns perfectly with the government’s vision of providing quality healthcare for all Ghanaians,” he said.
The Minister described the Foundation’s intervention as a remarkable philanthropic contribution that would improve the capacity of the Ho Teaching Hospital to respond effectively to medical emergencies.
Ms Adwoa Wiafe, the Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, reaffirmed the MTN Ghana Foundation’s commitment to supporting accessible healthcare across the country.
“Health is essential. It is everyone’s right, not just a privilege or a gift. We must all share the responsibility of ensuring that communities have access to quality healthcare,” she said.
She explained that the newly expanded Accident and Emergency Centre was designed to meet international standards and would help ease congestion at the hospital while improving patient flow and emergency response.
Dr Hintermann K. K. Mbroh, the Chief Executive Officer of Ho Teaching Hospital, described the facility as a major boost to emergency healthcare delivery at the hospital.
He explained that the emergency department served as the hospital’s frontline for handling urgent medical cases and that the upgraded infrastructure would enable medical teams to provide faster and more effective life-saving interventions.
Dr Mbroh emphasised the importance of strong partnerships between the public and private sectors in strengthening the country’s healthcare system and commended the MTN Ghana Foundation for its continued support for health infrastructure development.
Dr Delanyo Dovlo, the Chairman of the Ho Teaching Hospital Board, said the project represented an important step towards the hospital’s long-term goal of becoming a centre of excellence for clinical care and medical training.
Professor Lydia Aziato, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), also called for sustained collaboration to expand specialised health services in the region, particularly in areas such as cardiac and maternal healthcare.
She noted that modern health infrastructure not only improves patient outcomes but also strengthens the university’s mandate to train future healthcare professionals.
The newly expanded 30-bed emergency facility is equipped with modern medical equipment to enhance emergency care delivery.
These include patient and cardiac monitors, portable ultrasound machines, defibrillators with pacemaker capabilities, electrocardiogram (ECG) machines, ventilators, and arterial blood gas analysers.
Other equipment provided at the centre includes haematology and biochemistry analysers, blood storage refrigerators, infusion pumps, suction devices, crash carts, blood warmers, hospital beds, stretchers, and examination lamps.
The facility also features an elevator to improve accessibility for critically ill patients and persons with disabilities.
The Hospital management was encouraged to prioritise the maintenance of the facility to ensure its sustainability and continued delivery of quality emergency care.
The upgraded emergency centre is expected to improve emergency response in the region, reduce referrals to other hospitals, and significantly increase survival rates for patients requiring critical care.
The MTN Ghana Foundation has undertaken several community development projects in the Volta Region over the years.
These include the construction of a 60-bed maternity and neonatal intensive care unit at the Keta Municipal Hospital, the upgrading of the Kpedze Health Centre, and the provision of a potable water system for the Kpeve community.
Dignitaries present at the ceremony included Togbe Kasa, representative of the Asogli Traditional Council, Mr Samuel Koranteng, Board Member of the MTN Ghana Foundation, and representatives of the security services, among others.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo