By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Effia (WR), June 10, GNA -MTN Ghana is refurbishing about 500 worn-out hospital beds at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in the Western Region.
The repairs, would ensure that the hospital, a major referral centre is able to retain critically ill or emergency cases to end avoidable deaths among the infirmed.
The project forms part of MTN’s 21 Days of Y’ello Care initiative and was officially handed over to a contractor at a brief ceremony at the hospital.
Mr Prince Owusu Nyarko, the South West Senior Manager of MTN, announced this at the hospital during a project handing over ceremony.
He noted that the “No Bed Syndrome” in hospitals had become a major setback in quality healthcare delivery requiring urgent steps to resolve the problem.
“Too many families have lived the painful reality of this No Bed Syndrome — pregnant women turned away at the hospital door; accident victims moved from facility to facility as time slips away; patients waiting on benches, in corridors, sometimes on the floor, because our hospitals are overwhelmed,” he said.
Mr Nyarko said the company would also engage in some public health campaigns on non-communicable diseases, which have become known as “silent killers.”
“We are going into communities to talk about these issues so that people can take better control of their lifestyles to prevent or manage such conditions. This is in line with the Mahama Cares Initiative, which seeks to educate and provide treatment to patients with Non Communicable Diseases to alleviate the heavy burden on individuals and the NHIS.
“This is a national priority area that we must get involved in,” he added.
He said MTN would also improve upon WASH facilities in schools across Western, Western North and Central regions and train Health Champions who would carry this work forward.
Mr Michael Danso, the Administrator, Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, described MTN Ghana’s support as timely because bed availability directly impacted on quality, and equitable care.
He said the project would enhance service delivery.
Mr Matthew Bentho, Operations Director of Sika P3 Edwuma Company Limited, the contractor, assured that work would be completed on schedule to ensure patients receive care in dignity.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/ Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Mildred Siabi-Mensah