The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has launched a $10 million ‘Heal Komfo Anokye’ project, a fundraising campaign for the renovation and modernisation of the main blocks of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.
He described as apologetic and embarrassing, the current state of the facility.
He therefore, appealed to Members of Parliament (MP), government appointees, corporate organisations and the public to contribute and help achieve the targeted amount.
“This should be devoid of politics, we have to ensure the challenges are addressed. The facility will outlive all governments so we should do well to support this initiative,” the Asantehene spoke in Twi, at the launch, on Friday.
“The leaking roofs, exposure of electrical cables, cracked walls, are shameful. Let’s all put aside party politics and join hands to fix this embarrassing situation. Collectively, we can raise the $10million and give a facelift to this hospital,” he pointed out.
The A-D blocks, popularly called ‘GEE’, named after one of the contractors who built the Hospital-Gee, Walter and Smith Ltd, with about 1,200 beds, since their construction in 1955, have never seen any renovation works, thus impacting adversely on quality of in-patient care.
Otumfuo’s initiative formed part of the legacy projects expected to be executed as part of the 25th anniversary of his ascension to the Golden Stool come 2024.
According to the Asantehene, he had disguised himself on two occasions to visit the facility and that, he was aware of the state of deterioration.
He said when the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital approached him to ask for help, “I told him we would make sure we raise the needed amount to give this facility a facelift”.
The Asantehene noted that though there were not enough equipment, the doctors were doing their maximum best.
Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah, CEO of the hospital, also lamented over the current state of the facility.
“This sad state of affairs is getting worse by the day and we are reaching a point where if nothing was done immediately, the old GEE blocks could soon suffer a catastrophic structural failure with dire consequences for health care services in this region and beyond,” he emphasized.
Adding “everything has deteriorated beyond maintenance due to the fact that the facility has never undergone any comprehensive renovation in its close to 70 years history due to the nation’s limited resources”.
He called on all and sundry to support the Asantehene “to bring this vision into reality through our generous contributions to the fund-raising drive”.
At a press briefing on Thursday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the KATH, Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah, pointed out that there were lot of leakages coupled with hanging cables, loose and falling plumbing pipes and peeling floors which have made it necessary for a major renovation to bring comfort to both patients and staff of the hospital.
He said the hospital was the only referral facility in the middle and northern parts of the country serving all the 16 regions and other West African countries.
Prof. Addai-Mensah indicated that there were routine repairs but not enough to address the wear and tear that the blocks have undergone over the 70 year period.
Ashanti Regional Engineer of the Public Works Department, Kojo Darko Asante, mentioned that there were many leakages in the wards, with electrical wiring exposed, while the plumbing tiles were all in a mess.
Adding, the wards lacked fire detection, fighting devices, sewerage water treatment systems not functional with no lightening protection systems to protect sensitive machines and equipment.
Mr Samuel Adu Boakye, chairman of the ‘Heal Komfo Anokye’ project committee, said apart from the Asantehene’s equity contributions towards the project, the committee would rely on individuals and corporate bodies, both home and abroad to fund the project.
FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI
