Fatal Cost Of Collapsed Health System: Man Goes Mad Over Death Of Child?

Many Ghanaians are beginning to come face to face with the fatal cost of the obvious collapsed healthcare delivery system in the country, in spite of the claims of building uncountable number of hospitals by the Mahama government.

A video making rounds on social media of a young man from Jasikan, clutching his dead baby in his hands, whilst blaming nurses and doctors, for negligence and failure to get blood for his late child is not only alarming but pathetic.

The unfortunate incident, which happened at a hospital in Amasaman, confirms how dangerous it has become to accessing healthcare in Ghana under this current government.

The frustrated young man is heard shouting and cursing, “I brought the baby since yesterday, he was healthy. This child is all I have. Everyone who has pocketed my money will suffer. I am from the Volta region; I’m not a Ga. Everyone who has pocketed my money will suffer.”

The young man, whilst demanding to see the head of the hospital, disclosed that he had to go to Nsawam just to purchase a drug for GHc200.

“I had to go and buy blood tonic for him at Nsawam for two million. I also had to pay two hundred thousand (GHc20) for transport alone,” the visibly angry man added.

Not even words from some patients at the facility could calm down the restless young man.

The unfortunate incident is an example of similar stories happening across the country, especially the northern part, where most health centres lack basic amenities.

Last Wednesday, the Accra Psychiatric hospital announced suspension of admissions at the facility due to lack of funds to support its operations.

The Communications Director for the hospital, Emmanuel Febiri, stated that the lack of government funding was adversely affecting healthcare delivery at the facility.

“Our source of funding depends on the subvention from the government of Ghana and the government has been trying to do its part but for some time now, the money is not forthcoming,” he said.

“It has been challenging to manage the patients in terms of feeding them, buying detergents and even money to pay casual workers. As it stands now, there’s no money, there’s no food for the patients” he added.