Nkoranza (B/A), Nov. 6, GNA - A 1.8 billion-cedi ultra modern Mortuary was inaugurated for the Saint Theresa's Catholic Hospital at Nkoranza in Brong-Ahafo at the weekend. Nana Gabby Nsiah Nketiah, Senior Presidential Aide, who inaugurated the facility, commended Ghana Link Network Services Limited, the organisation which provided it.

He also commended Mr Nicholas Adjei Danso Abeam, president of the company, for financing the project.

Nana Nketiah called on the management of the hospital to handle the facility in a proper manner.

He also paid special tribute to the Roman Catholic Church for providing some educational and health facilities in the communities to complement the efforts of the government.

Nana Kwadwo Kwakye, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, commended the people of Nkoranza for their high interest in the National Health Insurance Scheme.

He urged the people to promote environmental sanitation so as to prevent the outbreak of epidemics.

Mr Kwame Ampofo-Twumasi, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports and Member of Parliament for Nkoranza South, reiterated the need for parents to invest in the education of their children to encourage them to become responsible citizens in future. Mr Abeam, a citizen of Sessiman in Nkoranza who bankrolled the project explained that the company was committed to the development of the area.

The mortuary could take 30 corpses at a time. Dr Kofi Amoako, Medical Superintendent in charge of the hospital, said the 93-bed hospital served as a referral centre for about 10 peripheral health institutions in the Nkoranza district. He said besides offering curative services, the hospital also promoted special programmes such as HIV/AIDS counselling, TB control, mental health disorders and diabetic management.

Dr Amoako said low and unstable power at the hospital was destroying equipment and appealed to the Nkoranza District Assembly to provide the health facility with a new and separate transformer. He suggested the provision of a stand-by generator to supplement power from the national grid to prevent the decomposition of bodies kept in the mortuary during power outage.

Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom IV, Omanhene of Nkoranza, advised the youth against premarital and illicit sexual practices so they could avoid contracting HIV/AIDS.