Hospital Complains About Frequent Power Outages

The Management of the Nkawie-Toase Government Hospital in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District has voiced their concern about the frequent power outages which they say was hampering efficient service delivery. Mr Alex Abugri, the Administrator, said many of the equipment at the facility had also been damaged by the attendant power fluctuations. He said the situation was dire and that the Electricity Company of Ghana needed to act quickly to fix it to ensure stable and reliable power supply to the hospital. Mr Abugri was speaking at a mid-year performance review meeting held by the District Directorate of Health Services at Nkawie. Among those who attended were health professionals, heads of department, chiefs, community-based surveillance volunteers and assembly members. Mr Abugri said another issue bothering them had to do with the absence of a fence to stop encroachment on the hospital�s lands. He used the occasion to call on the district assembly to assist them in building a wall to help protect the property. Dr Samuel Osei Somuah, the District Director of Health Services, told the meeting that all Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds in the area were now functional. He said this had significantly helped to bring quality healthcare closer to people especially in the deprived communities. Dr Somuah said during the period, they also promoted regenerative health and family planning education adding that there were improved data management and report writing by the facilities through in-service and refresher courses. Dr Somuah said inadequate health professionals, especially midwives, delays in refund of insurance claims and lack of residential accommodation were the major challenges they faced.