The newly constructed National Eye Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra has been closed down since March 7, this year as a result of the unbearable hot conditions at the facility.
The centre, a specialist eye facility which was opened in October 2015, was not fitted with air conditioners, resulting in the staff having to endure excessive heat. According to the Project Coordinator, Mrs Evelyn Tay, because of the design of the structure, the centre would need 40 air conditioners before staff could comfortably work there.
She explained that during the construction of the facility, the contractors did not indicate the need for air-conditioning.
Appeal to business community
Mrs Tay, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, said the centre had been able to acquire 18 airconditioners, with the promise of four more in a week or two.
The Lions Club, she said, provided funds for 10 out of the 18 airconditioners.
“If we get 25 more airconditioners, the workers will move back,” she stated, and made a passionate appeal to the business community, philanthropists and the public to donate towards acquiring the air conditioners for the facility.
She disclosed that the Scottish Caledonian Society in Ghana planned to hold a wine-tasting and supper night on May 11 to raise funds to support the cause, adding that a few businesses had donated 20 raffle prizes for the night’s event.
Anaesthetic machine
The facility, which was constructed to train doctors in the West African sub-region to become specialists without having to travel abroad, also needs an anaesthetic machine and piped gas.
The anaesthetic machine, Mrs Tay said, cost US$45,000, while the piped gas cost $75,000, totalling $120,000, approximately GH¢500,000.
She suggest that if the members of the Ghana Club 100 would each contribute GH¢5,000 towards acquiring the anaesthetic equipment, the centre would be complete “and Ghana will finally have this facility”.
She, however, expressed the desire that the air conditioners be purchased first, so that the centre could be put to use again.
Mrs Tay said donations towards the purchase of the airconditioners could be made to Moorfields, Lions, Korle Bu Trust, account number 0100104176800, Standard Chartered Bank Head Office, High Street, Accra.
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