Kumasi, March 10, GNA - The authorities of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) are pursuing postgraduate clinical residency programme in all specialities at the hospital.

The programmes are part of the efforts by the authorities to transform the hospital into a world-class medical centre of excellence within the next four years.

Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Chief Executive of the hospital, announced this at a press briefing to launch the 50th anniversary celebrations of the hospital in Kumasi on Wednesday.

He said where necessary, the hospital would collaborate with its partners in Europe and America to train and maintain the requisite staff a teaching hospital needed to make a difference.

Dr Nsiah-Asare said the authorities were striving to create centres of excellence in the accident, emergency, neuro-surgery, cancer and other units within the hospital.

He said KATH had creditably fulfilled its mandate in spite of few lapses and problems, adding that, it had also made modest achievements in terms of infrastructure development.

Dr Nsiah-Asare said two ultra-modern facilities - Radiotherapy and Physiotherapy units - had been completed and being used while a computerised Tomography scanner, an advanced x-ray equipment had been installed.

He said the construction of the long awaited maternity and children's block, which started in 1974 was progressing steadily since May 2001, while flats to accommodate doctors, nurses and other staff had also been completed.

Dr Nsiah-Asare mentioned the exodus of medical personnel and nurses as well as congestion at the wards of the hospital as some of the problems facing the authorities.

He said the main objectives of the Golden Jubilee celebration would be to showcase the contribution of KATH in health care in Ghana and to solicit support for further development of the hospital.

The Chief Executive said the official launch of the 50th anniversary would be performed by the Minister of health, Dr Kwaku Afriyie on March 30, 2004 while the climax of the celebrations would be held on March 2005.