Peki (VR), May 20, GNA - The management of Peki Government Hospital has over the past three years consistently recorded zero infant mortality, which is a major boost for the attainment of health sector target under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agenda. Maternal mortality ratio also dropped from 11 per 1,000 live deliveries in 2004 to zero per 1,000 live deliveries in 2008 while death of children under-five years has also dropped dramatically, a Ghana News Agency investigation revealed on Wednesday. In spite of these achievements the hospital has serious human resources constraints - it has only a medical doctor instead of three, 13 professional nurses instead of 36, seven midwives instead of 15 and three health assistants instead of 15.

The hospital also lacks a laboratory technologist and technicians, technical officer, accounts officer, revenue collector and health service administrator.

The hospital, which serves about five districts, is also confronted with inadequate funds to support implementation of projects and rehabilitation of buildings, acquisition of appropriate laundry and kitchen equipment and computers and employment of skilled personnel for easy data collection and analysis. The GNA investigation also established that the main road leading to the hospital was in a deplorable state, a situation nurses said often contributed to complications to patients being rushed to the hospital. In an interview with Ghana News Agency, Dr Lawrence Y. Kumi, Medical Superintendent, stated that the doctor to patient ratio was 1:30,719 while that of the nurse to patient ratio was 1:2,459. On human resources constraints, Dr Kumi called for urgent human resources and logistics to ensure that it met its obligation to provide adequate health care for all. He said: "The entire staff is on a 24-hour service even though we are paid like our counterparts who ran shift.it is a drain on the capacity of staff and their families." 20 May 09