The Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Coast has taken delivery of quantities of hospital equipment and consumables to aid its operations.
Donated to the hospital by the Hands of Gold Foundation (HOGF), an Accra-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), the items included, BP Apparatus, Digital/ Infra-red thermometers, Suction machines, Clinical Weighing scales, Stethoscopes, Bedside screens, Nebuliser waste bins and wall clocks.
The consumables, however, included psychotropic medications, assorted cake soaps, bar soaps, soft sweeping brush, floor mops, long scrubbing brush, lavatory brushes or sacks of detergent, drinking cups, street broom, hand scrubbing brushes and boxes of bottled mineral water.
Presenting the items, the Manager, Administration and Policy Coordination, Mr Rex Kumordzi, said the gesture was to support mental healthcare delivery in the country.
He said HOGF recognised the alarming increase in mental illnesses in the country and the need to support care givers to enable them to treat persons who suffered the unfortunate ailment.
Mr Kumordzi said it was important for the members of the public to show care and compassion to one another, to complement advocacy efforts of those in charge of mental care in the country.
“Mentally challenged persons are the most vulnerable in society and it is our duty as citizens to ensure their protection, well-being and overall mental health,” he emphasised.
Mr Kumordzi explained that the decision to go to the aid of the hospital formed part of activities to commemorate the third anniversary celebrations of the foundation.
He however, expressed the hope that the items would go a long way to benefit the mental facility and its inmates, and help to reduce the burden on the day-to-day administration of the hospital.
On his part, the Principal Nursing Officer of the hospital, Mr Charles Ofosuhene, expressed his gratitude to the foundation for coming to the aid of the facility.
Mr Ofosuhene who also doubles the Quality Assurance Coordinator of the hospital used the occasion to appeal to individuals and corporate institutions to come to the aid of the numerous mental homes particularly in these hard and trying times.
He assured that the donated items would be used to the benefit of the inmates and prayed that HOGF adopted the hospital for regular support.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL
