Francis Xavier Tuokuu

The Police Hospital in Accra on Thursday commissioned a new dialysis centre to help address renal health cases in the country which have been on the ascendancy in recent years.

Commissioning the Centre, the Chief Executive officer of Health Education on wheels, Dr. Anim Addo whose Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) partnered the hospital to establish the centre, said, kidney diseases have become part of household discussions lately and seriousness should be attached to arresting them.

According to him, people were dying of kidney failures in the past because of lack of accessibility but in recent times, people are dying as a result of affordability and called on government to subsidize the treatment of such diseases.

“Health care must be affordable to all and not to some. I thank God for this day and I can say my eyes have seen the glory of God. It took two and half years to complete this project”, he added.

Dr. Anim Addo explained that, Health Education on Wheels is an NGO based in the United States of America with the mission to provide accessible Public Health Education, Information, Diagnostic services and interventions to countries of Africa including Ghana.

He admonished all Ghanaians to do regular health checks warning that “the only thing you will lose is your life if you don’t”.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police (I.G.P), Mr. Mohammed Alhassan was full of joy that such a centre has been established at the Police Hospital which is noted for its quality health care delivery. He emphasized that “a sound mind is found in a sound body and as law enforcement officers, the police believe a sound health support service is critical to a sound mind and improved professional service delivery that meets the growing expectation of the people and communities”.

He mentioned various policy interventions being undertaken by the police administration to include, the refurbishment of the hospital theatre, the establishment of a 24-hour Chemist Service as well as a Herbal Medicine Unit which according to him demonstrates the determination of the Police Administration in delivering quality health care.

Quality health care according to the I.G.P requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders and “there is therefore the need for deeper support and collaboration between the private sector and public institutions including the police service to bring quality and affordable health care delivery to the people of this country”.

He assured that though the centre is located at the Police Hospital, it is open to the entire population of Ghana and called on all other organizations to emulate the example of Health Education on Wheels.

He challenged the medical Director and his staff to exhibit the highest sense of care and maintenance of the centre so that the dreams of all who contributed their time, ideas and resources to the establishment of the centre will remain relevant at all times.

In an exclusive interview with the Al-Hajj, a nurse at the centre, Inspector P.K. Awuni said five patients can be admitted at the facility at a time. Checks by the Al-Hajj revealed that one patient was under-going treatment at the time of commissioning the facility. The patient (name withheld) expressed satisfaction with his treatment so far but was worried about the cost of treatment which he said is unbearable.

Inspector Awuni said an amount of four hundred and twenty Ghana Cedis is required by a patient to attend the facility three times in a week.

Also in attendance at the programme were, Director of Police at the Police Criminal Investigations Directorate, Commissioner of Police Prosper Ablorh, Director of Paramedics, Dr. Godfred Asiamah, Medical Director of the hospital, Brigadier General (Rtd) Dr. J.T Wana-wana, The Director of Police Administration, Rose Bio-Atinga, Commissioner of Police, John Kudalor among others.