Peki (V/R), Feb. 13, GNA - The Peki Government Hospital recorded zero infant mortality in 2006, which is a major boost for the national attainment of health sector target under the Millennium Development Goals agenda.

Total number of deliveries stands at 384 out of which 94 were through Caesarean operation.

Maternal mortality ratio also dropped from 11 per thousand deliveries in 2004 to zero per thousand deliveries in 2006 while death under five years dropped from 23 in 2004 to six in 2006, Dr Lawrence Y. Kumi, Medical Superintendent, stated at the 2006 Health Sector Annual Performance Review conference.

He said the number of outpatient visits reduced drastically from 13,493 in 2004 to 9,554 in 2006.

Indicators for disease surveillance show that the number of TB patients during the period reduced from 40 in 2005 to 16 in 2006, HIV positive cases diagnosed dropped from 94 in 2005 to 65 in 2006 and malaria cases also reduced from 4,306 in 2005 to 2,754 in 2006. On access to clinical care utilization, Dr Kumi noted the National Health Insurance Scheme in the district had been successfully implemented.

He said since the commencement of the NHIS in mid-August to December last year, a total of 1,050 clients had accessed the scheme. The scheme paid 77,961,657 cedis with an outstanding bill of 43,857,143 cedis.

He identified major challenges facing the hospital as inadequate funds to support the implementation of projects and rehabilitation of building facilities, lack of appropriate laundry and kitchen equipment and urgent need for computers and skilled personnel to make easy data collection and analysis.

Dr Kumi said the achievements were recorded through the efforts of doctor to patient ratio of 1:27,719 and nurse to patient ratio of 1:1,459.

The hospital now operates with only two medical doctors and 38 nurses, which is woefully inadequate, he said.

Dr Kumi said the hospital also lacked the required number of complementary staff. It has one dispensary technician instead of five, two health information officers instead of five, no typist, 28 orderlies instead of 40 and inadequate security personnel.

It also has no residential accommodation for newly posted staff, he said, and called on the District Chief Executive and the district assembly to support the effort of the hospital in making health care accessible to the people.

He urged the Member of Parliament and the District Chief Executive to collaborate to construct the adjoining road from the main road to the hospital that is in a dreadfully bad state.

In an interview with Ghana News Agency, Dr Kumi called for urgent human resources and logistics to ensure that it met its obligation to provide adequate health for all.

He said the hospital needed computers, printers, about 500 bags of cement to complete the security fence wall, motor cycles, vehicles, electric and manual hospital beds, mattresses, wheelchairs, relaxation chairs, tricycles and overhead projectors for community outreach programmes.