Two ultra-modern oxygen plants have been inaugurated at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).
The plants have the capacity to produce in excess of 600 cubic meters over the hospital’s current oxygen consumption of 1,875 cubic meters a day.
This move makes KATH the first hospital in the country to single handedly, with Internally Generated Fund (IGF), purchase its oxygen plant with both procurement and installation cost of over GH¢5.9 million.
The hospital’s oxygen plants, which were more than 22 years old, were no longer capable of meeting patients’ requirements for medical gases, both in terms of quantity and quality due to the obsolete state of the hospital’s plants.
Addressing a gathering at the inaugural ceremony, the Chief Executive of the hospital, Dr Oheneba Owusu-Danso, noted that, the project was a dream come true for both staff and patients of the hospital, as it had come to relieve the hospital from all oxygen production and supply difficulties.
He disclosed that the plants had been running in perfect condition since May 27, 2019 and they had also been supplying all the oxygen consumption needs of critically-ill patients at the hospital at a pressure rage of 4.5bar to 5bar, which is the required pressure level for optimum patient care.
Dr Owusu-Danso commended the government for approving the hospital’s decision to use pre-financing module in the acquisition of the plants contracted to Rikair Company, as the cost was expected to be paid in installments over a period of three years.
Again, he commended the government for ensuring the approval by parliament of 155 million Euros loan for the completion of the 44-year-old Children and Maternity project of the hospital.
Dr Owusu-Danso indicated that, in spite of the great strides by the hospital, it was facing serious challenges with critical diagnostic equipment like the Computerized Axial Tomograpy (CT) and the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan machines, and suggested that the hospital was willing to explore similar opportunities for a pre-financing module or placement contracts.
The Chief of Staff, Mrs Frema Osei Opare, who was the special guest, lauded KATH for its prudent and innovative way of providing infrastructure at the hospital.
She urged other health facilities to emulate KATH and be innovative and proactive enough to complement the government’s efforts in improving health development and to help make the country the best health tourism hub in Africa.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Mr Alexander Abban, noted that there was the need for uninterrupted supply of oxygen at KATH for patients in critical condition, considering the fact the hospital had more than 1,200-bed capacity.
Mr Abban indicated that for KATH to boldly commit its IGF in financing the project, was highly commendable and worth emulating by other health facilities across the country.
FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI
