New Edubiase (Ash), May 19, GNA - An autoclave sterilization machine at the maternity ward of the New Edubiase District Hospital in the Adansi South District, was on Saturday destroyed when fire broke out at the ward. Also destroyed were some official documents and uniforms of some personnel of the hospital. Briefing the Ghana News Agency on the incident, Mr David Kwasi Amankwah, the District Director of Health Services, said there were no casualties as patients were evacuated to safety before any tragedy could be caused, adding that, the beds and the maternity block were not affected.

He said the fire whose cause is yet to be identified was detected by a nurse on duty who raised the alarm, stressing that as a result some staff used the hospital's fire extinguishers to put off the fire before personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) from Obuasi arrived at the scene. He appealed to the District Assembly to, as a matter of urgency equip the New Edubiase Fire Station with fire tenders to enable them to respond to emergency situations. Mr Amankwah also appealed to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to replace the destroyed machine for work to go on smoothly at the maternity block.