The Ghana Medical Association is calling on government to exempt hospitals from the current load shedding exercise.
[contextly_sidebar id=”2EWymdBRIBEjCzIhnLhvP0DJVv8ZVBxd”]According to the association, the inclusion of hospitals and other medical facilities in the load shedding schedule is affecting medical care.
Making a case for their exemption, the Deputy General Secretary of the GMA, Dr Justice Yankson said electricity is crucial for the operation of medical facilities.
“There have been instances where the power cuts have had negative effects on our work. Anytime there is a power cut in any medical facility and especially where there are no back-up generators there has been a problem,” he stated.
According to Dr Justice Yankson, the GMA has officially asked government to exclude hospitals from the load shedding exercise.
Ghana has been battling with insufficient power supply following challenges with some of its power generating plants.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is currently shedding load of 450 and 650 megawatts during off-peak and peak hours; a situation which is adversely affecting businesses and health facilities in the country.
The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi is reported to have been spending about GHC60, 000 daily on diesel to fuel its generators because of the load shedding which has been intensified in the country.
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By: Franklin Badu Jnr/citifmonline.com/Ghana