Accra, June 13, GNA - Government has been called upon to assist the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to re-commission its Medical Block that has been out of function for eight years now.

Civil works on the rehabilitated block is about 90 per cent completed and what is left is the acquisition of general medical equipment that, includes beds, ventilators and monitors.

Professor Samuel Ofosu-Amaah, Chairman of the new reconstituted 12-member board, made the appeal when Health Minister, Major Courage Quashigah (rtd) inaugurated the board and the new Chief Executive of the Hospital, Professor Nii Otu Nartey, on Friday in Accra.

Other members of the board include Dr Ben Daniel Annan, Mrs Emma Helen Abaga, Dr Jean N. Aka, Dr Kwakye Marfo, Professor Christian Ntim-Amponsah and Mrs Elizabeth Bruce. Mr Kombian Kambarin is Secretary. Prof. Ofosu-Amaah said, the long neglect of the Medical Block that mainly took care of adult patients had put a lot of pressure on other blocks with accompanying challenges.

"There is therefore the need for immediate assistance to bring the block back to life to help in efficient delivery of healthcare at the hospital which is still the best in the country," Prof. Ofosu-Amaah noted. Major Quashigah stressed the crucial role the Hospital played in the delivery of tertiary healthcare in the country and charged the board to design new and innovative ways of internally generating sufficient resources to improve and enhance operations in the hospital. In congratulating members of the Board, the Minister said the renewal of the mandate of the previous Board with slight changes emphasized the confidence and satisfaction the Ministry had in their previous work.

He urged the Board to consider instituting an "investment plan" with a view to upgrade and modernise services of the hospital so that patients could be treated locally to help cut down on the high cost the nation incurred in the treatment of patients abroad. Major Quashigah further charged the Board to look and check reports about shortage of water, breakdown of equipment and revenue leakage to help save money for other projects.