The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, has promised to address the understaffing situation at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital by employing more health professionals as the facility prepares to operationalise it Intensive Care Unit later in January.

He said due to the inadequate number of doctors, nurses and specialists, the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital was not fully operational.

Dr Nsiah-Asare said this during a working visit to various units of the Hospital in Accra on Friday.

He expressed gratitude to Management of the Hospital for the clean environment and also for their effort to address some general challenges facing the hospital.

Speaking on some of the challenges, he said there was a limited number of staff including nurses, specialists, pharmacists and doctors.

Dr Nsiah-Asare said since most of the health conditions were not covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme, the GHS would try to factor some cost in their annual budget to ensure the hospital was financially viable and continue giving quality care.

“Ridge Hospital has the best Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the country with 36 beds, therefore, we should have intensive care doctors and nurses to ensure that the unit operates effectively,” he said.

“We would engage the Regional Director of the GHS to provide nurses to support the seven Intensive care nurses currently on the field.

“Since the hospital is still under a year warranty, we want to test all the machines so that any defect identified and fixed by the contractors,” he said.

Dr Nsiah-Asare assured the public that the Greater Accra Regional Hospital’s ICU would start operating fully on January 15.

“I will make use of the human resources and students nurses who pass through the hospital to enable them to use these machines before they start working”.

He assured the public that nurses would be absorbed into the system to fill the physical space available, adding that, “The public should expect the GHS to give total health care to citizens.”

The GHS, he said, would look more at clinical care, and continue prevention through vaccination, health education and Health promotion, as well as Health rehabilitation.

He also assured the public that the GHS would integrate mental health into the health system in order to reduce the stigmatization of people with mental health problems.

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Source: GNA

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GE Healthcare is on board as a technology partner through the supply and installation of various high-end medical equipment in the new facility.

[contextly_sidebar id=”wZzPx4QxB0toc87h2fuEptddEJgfn6aH”]The upgraded hospital, which was launched on Wednesday has moved the facility’s bed count from 192 to 420, while an additional 200 beds would be added in the second phase of the project.

The Ridge Regional Hospital now houses the single largest installation of GE Healthcare equipment in Ghana.

The hospital is equipped with diagnostic equipment such as an ultra-modern 1.5T MRI, a 64 slice CT scanner, an ultrasound imaging machine, a digital X-ray machine, a digital fluoroscopy machine; and a PACS/RIS system amongst others.

The hospital is also now equipped with a full continuum of care across the radiology, maternal and infant care, Cardiology and surgery care area.

Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Minister of Health said the partnership would enhance the health needs of many Ghanaians especially those in Accra.

“Our partnership with GE Healthcare and the US Government will help us to achieve the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Sustainable Development Goals.

“These goals lay out several health-specific targets, including addressing the need for more equitable and sustainable development that promotes inclusive growth to the benefit of all Ghanaians.”

Speaking at the launch, Farid Fezoua, Chief Executive Officer and President for GE Healthcare Africa said “This project affirmed GE’s commitment to bringing the latest advances in medical imaging technology and solutions to Ghana, through unique public–private partnerships such as this one.” “Our world-class technology would allow clinicians at Greater Accra Ridge Regional Hospital to see and detect disease like never-before” he added.

He said GE Healthcare adopts the role of a solutions partner, addressing global healthcare needs by providing technologies with clinically and economically relevant value propositions designed at low cost structures; developing holistic solutions that are aimed at to improving clinical quality and patient outcomes; generating capital solutions and new business models to ensure project viability and long term sustainability.

He said it also advanced education, skills development and awareness of healthcare professionals to promote local capacity building.

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Source: GNA

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The hospital was built by the Mahama administration with a $250 million credit facility from the US Exim bank and HSBC Bank.

The original Ridge Hospital was a 191-bed facility, built in 1929, to provide healthcare for British nationals during the colonial era.

Former President John Mahama inaugurated the first phase of the project in November 2016,

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

Photo credit: Kwaku David Photography

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The hospital referred to the as the Greater Accra Regional Hospital was built by the Mahama administration with a $250 million credit facility from the US Exim bank and HSBC Bank.

John Mahama inaugurated the first phase of the project in November 2016 but the hospital remained closed.

Following the opening of the 420-bed facility by the Health Minister, some 47 patients had the opportunity to experienced health care at the hospital.

Official records say 3 patients in critical condition were revived at the emergency ward, while 20 received care at the pediatric department.

14 others received care at the family medicine department.

The Minister of Health at the opening of the facility indicated that government will seek funds to complete phase two of the project.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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The refurbished hospital has been equipped with ultra-modern facilities and expanded to a capacity of 420 beds, to improve quality and expand access to healthcare delivery.

The ceremony was graced by former President Jerry John Rawlings, Health Minister; Alex Segbefia, E.T. Mensah, the Chief Executive Officer of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly; Alfred Oko Vanderpuye, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Klottey Korle; Zanetor Rawlings, among others.

President Mahama in a speech read on his behalf by the Health Minister said, “what we are doing is to provide equipment in the new facilities that we have, so that our health professionals will be able to give off their best to the patients.”

He also noted that, the location of the Hospital will provide “excellent accessibility and disposability to the public and would now provide tremendous healthcare services to the population.”

Supporters of the NDC were at the facility in their party colours, to hail President Mahama, the NDC flagbearer, for what they deemed as more evidence of his infrastructure developments, and proof that he deserves a second term with the general elections a week away.

The Medical Director of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Dr. Thomas Winsum Anabah, outlined to Citi News’ Caleb Kudah some of the key upgrades to the hospital noting that, the new facility consists of five edifices; including one for staff accommodation, one for the Anesthesia School, one for the mortuary, the utility building and the main facility.

The main facility has an emergency department which has been expanded from the initial six beds to 42-beds along with four theatres to cater for the emergency facility.

The hospital also has an oxygen unit where it will produce its own oxygen;and a water reserve underground which could last for at least a week.

The obstetric unit accompanying the new facility, comes with a 20-bed reception unit, 17 delivery suites, theatres and an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to handle natal complications. The ICU of the hospital has 12 theatres and 36 beds.

Speaking on when the hospital will be ready to receive patients, Dr. Anaba expressed hope that patients could start benefiting from the new facility in January.

The Greater Accra Regional Hospital is expected to have a capacity of 629 beds when it is completed.

The original Ridge Hospital was a 191-bed facility, built in 1929, to provide healthcare for British nationals during the colonial era.

The Greater Accra Regional Hospital was funded through a credit facility provided by the Export-Import Bank of United States for an amount of US$157,500,000 and HSBC Bank for an amount of US$92,500,000 respectively.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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