The first ever 80-bed ultra-modern capacity pediatric ward has been commissioned for the Bongo District hospital in the Upper East region.

Since its elevation to the status of a hospital, the health facility has operated without a separate ward for children, a situation resulted in management’s decision to combine children and female adults in one ward with about three persons sharing a bed in critical situations.

The facility was converted into a District Hospital in 1996 without corresponding increase in infrastructure and equipment, but has remained the only hospital in the District with a catchment population of over one thousand.

The hospital is an 85-bed capacity complex, providing both in-patient, outpatient, maternal, PH, diagnostic, specialized and counseling services; and has four (4) wards, including NCU.

Speaking at short ceremony to officially open the facility for use, Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr. Williams Gudu disclosed that the facility was started and completed with support from the Amuna family, a former Member of Parliament(MP) for the area Simon Alangde, TEERE an NGO and other citizens from Bongo. The hospital management also complemented with the finishing works of the new facility.

“Until now, for several years, we had no alternative but to contravene medical ethics and norms by accommodating the vulnerable and susceptible children in the same ward with adult females. In the peak malaria season, two (2) kids sometimes have to pair one bed; not because there are no beds, but for cheer lack of space in the ward. That we have cleared this giant hurdle today, is indeed, memorable and refreshing! It’s a great motivation to the staff and will undoubtedly enhance the image and confidence of both staff and patients in the services provided.

Naaba Chairman, flowing from the above exposition, the urgent need for a separate ward for children was floated by management to potential stakeholders; and we were glad to receive a positive response from Engineer William Amuna who quickly mobilized resources from amongst his family members and other partners and put a contractor on site. The outcome is an 80-bed capacity Kids’ Ward, with two baths, two toilets, a staff’s rest/changing room, a staff’s lavatory, a wide nurses’ bay and a store room. Electrical fittings have also been provided,” he said.

He noted that “no hospital can function effectively without basic equipment, logistics and infrastructure. I wish to state that due to collaborative efforts by the Hospital, the District Health Directorate, the Regional Health Directorate, and some benevolent and influential people of this land, this hospital has continuously received assistance of general consumables, equipment and infrastructure, which has enabled it to effectively carry out its mandate. In this regard, the Kids’ Ward has come at the right time to minimize the difficulties that we have been going through for several years”.

Speaking on behalf of the Amuna family, Engineer William Amuna who is a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GRIDCO disclosed that the decision to mobilise resources and commission a contractor to commence the project was as a result of media reports that suggested the hospital needed a kids ward urgently.

“I heard in a documentary on Joy FM one day about the hospital not having a kids ward and putting children and women in one ward. I thought that was not good enough and so I spoke to my siblings and some friends including the former MP, Simon Alangde on what we can do. I actually thought it was a small project but today we have such a great facility here and we are happy” he said.

The facility has an ultramodern setup with assorted beds and medical equipment.