Peki (V/R), Sept 12, GNA - Poor infrastructure, bad access road, defective official vehicle, inadequate bungalows for doctors and nurses is the plight of the 120-bed Government Hospital at Peki, Ghana News Agency observed at the weekend.

The hospital which serves patients from three district - South Day, Hohoe, and Asou Gyaman have not seen any major renovation for years and also operates under 40 per cent required staff strength. One medical doctor runs both day and night shifts assisted by 22 nurses of which five are due for retirement and one laboratory technician who was trained on the job.

The gloomy state of affairs at the hospital is aggravated by its strategic location on a major high way with huge accident record, but lacks accident and emergency wards with an over-aged ambulance. with inconsistent electricity supply.

The consulting rooms have no rest room, "so any time that nature calls the doctor have to live the patient, walk for some distance to adjoining room in the full view of the patients outside."

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Dr. Lawrence Kumi, the medical officer in-charge, who was reluctant to comment said the hospital provides general medical services including, O.P.D. admissions, discharging, surgical, maternity, and other humanitarian services such as free health counselling, rural outreach and sensitisation programmes. He expressed concern about the plight of medical officers in the districts and appealed to district assemblies, non-governmental organizations, citizens union and associations, and other philanthropic groups and individuals to assist these hospitals.

Dr Kumi noted the mobility and security challenges facing nurses and other supporting staffs, who live in town, adding, "this is place where 'trotro' does not operate and taxis stop operating after 2000 hours."

"We urgently need a staff bus, renovation of staff bungalows and putting up of new flats," he stated. 12 Sept. 05