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Measures have been taken to secure the Volta Regional Medical Stores and the Regional Hospital Medical Store against fire, authorities at the two institutions assured in separate interviews with the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday.

Mr Divine Azameti, Regional Pharmacist, Regional Health Directorate, has initiated the rewiring of the Regional Medical Store which is several decades old and suggested an urgent rewiring of other health facilities which are more than 20 years old.

He said all unserviceable items in the Medical Stores have been removed while there is a 24 hour security presence including two personnel of the Fire and Emergency Response Service following a fire-scare there late last year.

Separate assessments into the fire safety status of the Regional Medical stores were also carried out by the Ghana National Fire and Emergency Response Service and Star Fire Service; with a view to making recommendations to improve the fire safety status at the Stores.

He said the Health Directorate has also started procurement processes to buy new fire extinguishers to replace the older ones including smoke detectors.

Mr Azameti said areas around the Stores have also been cleared of weed.

Regarding the fire-scare at the Regional Medical Store late last year, Mr Azameti said it was quickly snuffed because of the vigilance of a security officer and quick response of staff and the National Fire and Safety Service.

Mr Azameti said the fire incident was traced to a contact between an iron rod and the aged and exposed electrical wires on the ceiling at the back of the Medical Stores. 

He said it was found out that the “paper-card” ceiling of the aged Medical Store served as tinder. 

Mr John Korbuvi, Head of Pharmacy at the Volta Regional Hospital, also told the GNA that the Hospital takes fire safety seriously since it was an important item on the Peer Review checklist.

He said fire extinguishers and fire detectors were in place at the Hospital’s Medical Store including fire hydrants while staffs were trained every year on fire safety and how to handle fire equipment.

Mr Korbuvi said stock was taken regularly to know stock position in the store in order to disaggregate items likely to cause fire and also remove items not immediately needed.

He said there was also regular maintenance of its electrical system and gadgets such as air-conditioners and appliances.

Dr John Tampuri, Medical Director of the Regional Hospital, said at 14 years the hospital might not seem to be too old but management was not losing sight of its maintenance.

Ghana’s Central Medical Store was razed to its foundations early this year, followed shortly after by a fire-scare at the Tamale Teaching Hospital Medical Store, raising fire safety concerns at the country’s medical stores.