Accra, Jan. 14, GNA – GCB Bank PLC has cut sod for the construction of a Paediatric Unit for the University of Ghana at a ceremony held at the University of Ghana Hospital on Monday.
The construction of the unit forms part of the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda of contributing to improved healthcare services targeted at the youngest and most vulnerable members of society.
The ceremony brought together the leadership of the Bank, the Hospital and the academic community of the University of Ghana as they witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony.
Those present from the Bank included Mr. Kofi Adomakoh, Managing Director, Mr. Sam Aidoo, Executive Director, Wholesale & Investment Banking and Mr. Linus Kumi, Head, Corporate Banking.
The University was represented by Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice Chancellor, Professor Gordon Abekah-Nkrumah, Chairman of the Hospital Management Committee, Professor Mark Sando Yidana, Provost, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Professor Joseph Yaro, Provost, College of Humanities, Professor Alfred Edwin Yawson, Provost, College of Health Sciences, Professor Justice Bawole, Dean, University of Ghana Business School, and Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah, Registrar.
The Paediatric Unit, when completed, will include a six-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) equipped to offer neonatal intensive care for pre-term babies as well as an eight-bed high-dependency unit for specialized paediatric care which is usually not available in a normal ward.
The Unit will also house an eight-bed infant unit, a two-bedroom isolation unit and a two-bed private room. Additionally, the Paediatric Unit will have a 16-bed toddler and older children’s ward, theatre and recovery units and a three-room labour and delivery suite fitted with state-of-the-art equipment.
Kofi Adomakoh, Managing Director of GCB Bank PLC, highlighted that the construction of the Unit aligns with the Bank’s broader CSR strategy which prioritises community well-being in key areas including health.
He said the construction of the Unit represented a profound opportunity for the Bank to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of children.
The facility, he said, would provide more than just health care, ensuring the total well-being of future generations and supporting the training of medical staff.
“We do not view this project merely as an infrastructure investment. It is an investment in our children’s lives, our healthcare system’s resilience and our community’s prosperity. It reflects a broader aspiration of promoting social responsibility and fostering sustainable development in every part of the country” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the University, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, stated that “It is important to acknowledge that the resources required to transform the operations of the Hospital, and the Health Services Directorate cannot be shouldered by the University alone. This is why we are especially grateful for the strong and enduring partnerships we have cultivated with external stakeholders over the years. One such invaluable partner is GCB Bank, which has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the development of the University.”
For over 60 years, the Bank has cultivated a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with the University. One of the most recent and tangible outcomes of this partnership is the construction of the Paediatric Unit, which aims to address a critical challenge in healthcare delivery for the University community and its surrounding residents.
The Bank has made crucial contributions to the health sector as part of its CSR agenda and commitment to improving the general well-being of Ghanaians including notable donations of cash, equipment and infrastructure to various health facilities such as the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and 37 Military Hospital.
GCB Bank PLC is a leading player in Ghana’s banking industry, with 184 branches, 340 ATMs and a host of banking agents spread across the length and breadth of the country.
GNA