Tullow Ghana Limited has constructed a maternity block for the Essikadu Hospital to improve maternal health and delivery outcomes in the area and its environs.
It is estimated that the obstetrics and gynaecology department within the old hospital serve more than 80,000 women and 1,500 babies annually, thus the need for the new block.
The 40-bed capacity maternity block comes with a theatre, a laboratory, a pharmacy and an out-patient area.
The facility is in response to a request by the hospital administration to provide a maternity block to serve the increasing number of pregnant women in the vicinity.
Mr. Charles Darku, Managing Director of Tullow Ghana Limited at the inauguration of the block said access to quality healthcare delivery forms a core part of Tullow’s social investment programmes.
He said Tullow is committed to ensure that its operations positively impact the oil and gas value chain and the well-being of the communities in which it operates.
‘Ultimately, it is the desire of Tullow to support a robust health system that is responsive to the health needs of Ghanaians, especially in the areas of maternal and health. We believe this project will go a long way to alleviate the perennial problem of lack of maternal health care he added.
Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur, the second lady noted that partnering with government to raise the standard of the people is important to the country’s socio-economic development.
She commended Tullow Ghana for such an initiative and urged other organisations to emulate its example.
Nana Kobina Nketsia, the Omanhene of Essikadu Traditional Area, noted that Tullow has put in a lot of effort to support the maternity block. He called for a maintenance culture to be applied to the facility – ‘Let us as a people find ways of contributing to the maintenance of this facility; this can be done if the assembly charges some levy’.
Dr. Atsu Dodor, Deputy Western Regional Director of Clinic Care, appealed for ambulances for the Hospital.
He pointed out that accommodation for their critical staff is also a challenge to the hospital- this affects response to emergencies when they have closed from work.
He called on individuals, corporate bodies as well as benevolent organisations to give support in this direction.
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