HIV/AIDS Rate Increases By 388% In Koforidua Hospital
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) /Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) recorded cases at the Koforidua government hospital increased from 734 in 2014 to 2,845 in 2015 representing approximately 388%.
Out of these figures, a total of 167 persons living with HIV/AIDS died at the facility in 2015. HIV/AIDS is currently a leading cause of death at the hospital, a position which was occupied by stroke in 2014. Stroke was the second major cause of deaths in 2015 with 163 deaths.
The Medical Director at the Regional Hospital, Dr. Kwame Anim Boamah, revealed this during an interaction with the media on Friday.
He mentioned other causes of deaths recorded at the facility as pneumonia, septicaemia, heart diseases, chronic liver cirrhosis, kidney diseases and anaemia, among others. Out of the 16,910 patients admitted in 2015, 1,225 lost their lives which was a reduction as compared to 2014 when out of the 18, 420 admitted, 1, 257 deaths were recorded.
Dr. Boamah also revealed that malaria and hypertension were the highest causes of admission with 1,002 and 709 cases respectively, while 639 abortion cases were recorded.
According to him, during the year under review, government assisted renovation and re-tooling of the main theatre with the provision of theatre table and lights, diathermy machines, anaesthetic machine and monitors and surgical instruments.
Also, a six-bed facility was installed at the intensive care unit; new digital X-ray and mammography machines have also been installed.
Other projects are a new CT Scan building has been constructed, dental chairs and laboratory equipment and provision of other equipment including carditocorgraph for monitoring foetuses, BP apparatus, weighing scales, ECG machines, defibrillators and rehabilitation of the old maintenance unit into infectious disease unit.
However, according to the medical superintendent, delay in claims payment by the National Health Insurance Authority, lack of oxygen plant and public verbal attack of staff are some of the challenges they face.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Boamah assured the public of improved healthcare delivery this year to ensure that clients get the best of healthcare in the region.
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