Korle Bu Teaching Hospital: The Vice President of Ghana Commissions Catheterization Laboratory in Korle Bu
Korle Bu Teaching Hospital: The Vice President of Ghana, His Excellency Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, on Tuesday, 25th April commissioned an ultramodern Catheterization Laboratory for use in the Hospital.
Speaking at a ceremony to commission the Cath Lab, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia expressed joy at officially outdooring the One-million-dollar Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) for Korle Bu.
He noted that globally, the health sector is working to achieve universal health coverage to ensure no one is left behind, and to do this government must build and strengthen the healthcare delivery future to be able to meet the needs of everyone in the country.
“The government in the last six years has prioritized the health sector and implemented several policies to strengthen health care delivery in Ghana”, he added.
Dr. Bawumia noted that the implementation of drones to deliver medical supplies to remote areas, which has made Ghana the largest drone medical delivery service in the world, delivering to about 2600 health facilities, had ensured high-quality care for citizens.
Korle Bu Teaching Hospital
He added that building the Cath Lab was the next step in the evolution of Ghana’s health sector.
“This Cath Lab, which is the most advanced in the country, and its accompanying Big Detector, dyna CT and roadmap software, and 3D workstation – essential for the requirements for achieving accurate and effective minimally invasive treatments
was procured and funded by the Bank of Ghana after an appeal I made to the Bank to consider funding the acquisition of such an essential medical equipment”, the Vice President said.
Dr. Bawumia acknowledged a brain surgery that was done four years ago by Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah and Dr. Sarkodie without cutting the patient’s skull due to how advanced invasive treatment had become, adding that, advocating for the Cath Lab was, therefore, a big deal for him.
“I called the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison, and told him the importance of financing this project as its Corporate Social Responsibility, and he agreed,” he added.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah noted that the installation of the Cath Lab marked another milestone in the relentless pursuit of providing excellent healthcare in Ghana.
Dr. Ampomah said, “The journey has been rough and rugged but we have persevered in the face of challenges to do our best for the people of Ghana.”
He added that the government in the last four years had made huge investments to improve the Hospital’s facilities like the new Fevers Unit, the upcoming Urology and Nephrology Centre of Excellence, and the new Maternity Block.
Korle Bu Teaching Hospital: Dr. Ampomah noted that the investment by the Bank of Ghana in sponsoring the full cost of the Catheterization Laboratory was in the same vein.
He expressed his gratitude to the Vice President for his advocacy and personal interest, which had brought the project to reality, and also to Dr. Dabo Sarkodie for helping facilitate the project.
Prof. Alfred Yawson, the Dean of the University of Ghana Medical School, who spoke on behalf of the Hospital’s Board Chairman noted that every year, Korle Bu is compelled to refer patients to medical facilities outside the country for further management of some specific cases.
This, he said, was because the advanced human resource skill the Hospital possesses is not matched by the equipment and facilities available.
Prof Yawson said the establishment of the Cath Lab has given the Hospital ‘another string to its bow’ in its desire to save lives.
He added that the Board of the Hospital is glad to have this life-saving equipment, which will be a source of attraction for medical tourism as the Hospital celebrates its 100th anniversary.
He urged those in charge of the machine to engage in proper maintenance to sustain and prolong its services to the hospital.
The Minister of Health in a speech read on his behalf by Dr. David Nkansa-Dwamena, the Board Chairman of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, also thanked the Vice President for leading the construction of the facility through the Bank of Ghana.
The acquisition of the Cath Lab will enable the Hospital to offer advanced minimally-invasive endovascular treatments for conditions such as brain aneurysms.
All guests, Central Management of Korle Bu, Traditional rulers of Korle Bu, Heads of Department of the Hospital, among others, all proceeded to inspect the Cathlab where they all expressed joy and gratitude to His Excellency and the Bank of Ghana.
Credit: KBTH
