By Kingsley Mamore
Dambai (O/R), Aug 31, GNA – Dr Kofi Amo-Kodieh, Oti Regional Director of Health Service, has called for an improved and reliable power supply system to ensure the effective delivery of healthcare services in health facilities across the region.
He said inadequate and unstable electricity supply, particularly low voltage, was negatively affecting the operations of some health facilities and undermining the efficient delivery of quality healthcare to patients.
Dr Amo-Kodieh identified low voltage as one of the major challenges confronting health facilities, citing the Krachi West Municipal Hospital at Kete-Krachi as one of the facilities experiencing difficulties associated with inadequate power supply.
He explained that the situation affected the smooth operation of essential medical equipment and other critical services that depended on a stable electricity supply.
According to him, health facilities require a dependable power supply to operate diagnostic equipment, laboratory services, cold-chain systems, operating theatres, wards and other critical units effectively.
Dr Amo-Kodieh said the frequent reliance on alternative power sources, including power plants, had increased the operational cost of health facilities and placed additional financial pressure on the healthcare system.
He noted that the situation could also contribute to frequent breakdowns of medical equipment, resulting in additional maintenance and replacement costs and in some instances, delays in the provision of healthcare services.
He therefore appealed to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to prioritise the provision of stable and adequate electricity to health facilities in the region.
The Regional Director said addressing the power supply challenges would improve the efficiency of health facilities, reduce operational costs, and help protect expensive medical equipment from damage.
He stressed that reliable electricity was not merely an infrastructure requirement but an essential component of quality healthcare delivery, particularly as health facilities increasingly depended on technology for diagnosis, treatment, storage of medicines and other essential services.
Dr Amo-Kodieh urged stakeholders to collaborate with the Health Directorate to identify facilities experiencing persistent power challenges and develop sustainable solutions to improve their electricity supply.
He said the Ghana Health Service remained committed to strengthening healthcare delivery in the Oti Region but required the support of relevant institutions and development partners to address infrastructure and logistical challenges confronting the sector.
He expressed the hope that concerted efforts would be made to resolve the power supply challenges to enable health workers to provide efficient and uninterrupted services to residents of the region.
The Regional Director made the call during an exclusive engagement with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in the region.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/George-Ramsey Benamba