A GNA Feature by Henrietta Gyebi-Adjei (Mrs)

Tema, Dec. 17,GNA - The contribution of private health institutions in the provision of health care delivery in Ghana is immeasurable, as many privately owned hospitals have performed creditably in supporting the Government's objective to make health care accessible to the people. One such institution is the Narh-Bita Hospital, which was established in Tema 25 years ago.

Since its establishment by Dr E.A. Narh, one of the grandchildren of Nene Narh-Bita, an herbal practitioner, the Hospital has been providing quality health care services to the people of Tema and its surrounding communities.

Operating with a staff of 150, comprising medical and para-medical staff, in addition to 20 consultants, the Hospital offers general medical services as well as specialised care in neurology. Currently, the Hospital provides services to over 80,000 patients annually and serves more than 60 corporate clients.

In partnership with Neuro Ghana, the Hospital has established the only private neurosurgical centre in the country where spine and brain surgery are performed in addition to diagnosis, treatment and research into neurosis diseases.

In recognition of its performance, the Hospital received accreditation from the West Africa College of Physicians in 1998, making it the first private hospital in Ghana to provide post-graduate training for doctors in Family Practice and has three of its doctors, who have already passed the Membership Level of the College's Examination. The Hospital has extensive affiliations with local and international organisations to ensure that it is always up to date with the current trends in medical practice.

The Hospital, apart from the provision of medical services, has never relented on its efforts to perform its social responsibility through donations and offering of communal labour.

To support Government's efforts in the training of nurses, the Hospital inaugurated an ultra modern block for its nursing school on November 17, 2004. The ceremony coincided with the matriculation of its first batch of 19 students, a right direction for the Hospital and the advancement of health delivery in the country.

This achievement is also laudable looking at the rate at which trained health professionals leave the country to seek greener pastures in the developed world.

With professional accreditation from the Nurses and Midwives Council, the Narh-Bita School of Nursing is in full operation offering a three-year diploma course in nursing. The magnificent Florence Nightingale Block, which houses the school is expected to live up to its name by the quality and commitment of its products.

The modern block has fully furnished lecture halls, equipped with computers, library, demonstration rooms and wards for attachment. The Medical Director of the Hospital, Mr E.A. Narh told the GNA that plans were far advanced to affiliate it with the School of Nursing, University of Ghana, Legon; University of Heidelberg in Germany and The School of Nursing Middlesborough in the United Kingdom.

It also has plans to establish a midwifery school and an institution to train nurse anaesthetists and medical assistants. With its vision of becoming an internationally recognised school as an emerging centre for excellence in nursing education, it is expected that the products would exhibit the good qualities of nursing and work diligently to save the lives of patients.

In this direction the various explanations people have about the nursing profession cannot be overlooked. In fact some think nursing is just about giving drugs to and injecting patients whiles others in the profession think it involves the maintenance and promotion of health, prevention of disease and providing care to the sick.

It was for this reason that Madam Joanna L. Laryea, Principal of the Narh-Bita Nursing School, reminded nurses to go beyond these functions and rather assist individuals, be they sick or well in the performance of activities, which they were unable to do because of lack of strength or knowledge as well as assisting the dying to die peacefully.

"The nurse is the arm of the amputee, the eyes of the blind and the knowledge for those ignorant about health issues', Madam Laryea stated.

With this encouraging advice from the Principal, nurses who have the intention to seek greener pastures outside the country must have the love of patients at heart and rescind their intention and help to provide the desired health care for the country.

It is hoped that these pioneering 19 nursing students of Narh-Bita School of Nursing would work hard to go beyond these expectations to uplift the image of the profession Narh-Bita Hospital needs commendation for its laudable efforts and must be given the needed support and encouragement to serve people in its catchments area.

It would also be proper if other private health institutions in the country copied these laudable developments taking place in Narh-Bita Hospital to complement Government efforts at improving health care delivery in the country.