Bimbilla (NR), Jan. 31, GNA - Authorities of the Bimbilla Hospital in the Nanumba North District, have appealed to government for infrastructure assistance to improve healthcare delivery. Dr Alex Ire, Medical Superintendent of the hospital made the appeal on Friday during an awards ceremony at Bimbilla to honour and to motivate hard working personnel of the hospital. He said the hospital needed financial assistance for development projects including the construction of security fence wall, build walkway to the mortuary, a vehicle to enhance mobility and the need to equip the radiology unit for use.

He said the hospital's transformer had developed a serious problem and needed urgent attention to help solve the power fluctuation, which sometimes damage properties and affects quality healthcare delivery. Dr Ire said the hospital recorded six maternal deaths last year due to delays in reporting for maternal healthcare. He added that the lack of adequate vehicles to carry patients to the hospital and the bad road network account for the problem.

He said, though antennal healthcare delivery is free, attendance in the hospital had always been very low and advised husbands to allow their wives to report for antenatal care. Dr Ire also appealed to the authorities of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to settle its outstanding claims in order to cushion the hospital from its financial difficulties. He said the spread of HIV/AIDS in the district had reduced but expressed worry that Hepatitis "B" situation is on the increase. Dr Ire said the hospital would screen its staff especially the clinical staff and those who would test Hepatitis B positive would be given the appropriate vaccination. He said the hospital had also started providing Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART) to People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). He said surgical operations have marginally increased by 0.78 per cent. Dr Ire advised staff to establish a cordial relationship with patients and that management had resolved to ensure greater discipline among personnel.

Mr Moses Timbila, Nanumba North District Director of Health Services (DHS), said the district had only five midwives that could affect the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs 4&5). He also noted that the incidence of guinea worm in the district reduced from 166 in 2006 to zero in 2009. This he said has remained so due to adequate education on the prevention of the disease. Mr Timbila advised all community volunteers to continue with its surveillance to prevent any resurgence of the disease saying "Now that the Carter Centre had withdrawn its sponsorship on the disease, we will suffer if the disease reemerges." Alhaji Seidu Amidu, District Chief Executive for Nanumba South, who chaired the function, called for a united front between senior and junior staff to improve healthcare delivery. He said government would take the necessary steps to upgrade some of the roads to make them accessible to facilitate transportation of patients to the hospital. Mr Gado Issah, Head of Security in the hospital appealed for the establishment of community watchdog committees in the district to help protect lives and properties. He said stealing had become rampant in the hospital since there was no fence wall.