Kumasi, Oct. 25, GNA - Tafo-Pankrono Citizens' Association in Toronto, Canada, on Sunday presented hospital equipment worth 500 million cedis to the Tafo Hospital in Kumasi.
The items included 45 used hospital beds, 41 mattresses, 42 bedside lockers, 14 cartons of medical garments, four laboratory pans, two suction devices, an operating light system, two diagnosing benches, a dressing trolley and an adult weighing scale.
Presenting the items at a durbar organised by the management and staff of the Hospital in collaboration with the people of Tafo, Mr Emmanuel Ofori, Chairman of the Association said members decided to present the equipment to the Hospital following discussions he had had with the Tafohene about the needs of the town last year. He said through the efforts of Mr Charles Ankama, who is resident in Germany, the association got a donation of the items and shipped them to Ghana.
Mr Ofori, who was accompanied by Nana Bandoh, an executive member and Ankobeahene of the Association, said members were prepared to support the construction of more wards at the Hospital and provide other facilities in the town.
Nana Agyen Frimpong II, Tafohene, who received the items and handed them over to the authorities, commended the donors and said efforts were being made to raise the status of the Hospital.
Nana Frimpong urged the people to observe personal and environmental hygiene so that they would not fall sick constantly.
Dr Nana Adu Akumia, Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, commended the government for its efforts to provide infrastructure facilities and equipment to the Hospital.
He, however, called for the early completion of the on-going projects so that effective service could be delivered to patients. Dr Akumia said the facility needed more accommodation and a bigger stand-by generator to ensure uninterrupted work even when the lights went off and appealed to members of the Association and other people in the twin towns of Tafo and Pankrono to help in that direction.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Old-Tafo-Suame, used the occasion to explain the current stage of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to the people and urged them not to allow people to deceive them about the scheme.
Dr Anthony Osei Akoto, Deputy Minister of Finance and NPP parliamentary candidate for Tafo-Pankrono, called on the contractor working on the projects at the Hospital to speed up work to complete the projects early.
Alhaji Seidu Chibsah, Old-Tafo Sarikyin Zongo, said efforts were being made in the community to ensure that people kept their areas clean to avoid an outbreak of disease.
About 17.7 million cedis was raised in an appeal for funds in support of the construction and rehabilitation of facilities at the Hospital. 25 Oct. 04