Mobilise resources to expand, equip Ho Teaching Hospital …Health Minister tells reconstituted board
The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, has charged the reconstituted board of the Ho Teaching Hospital to help mobilise needed resources for the expansion and equipping of the facility to deliver quality healthcare.
The hospital was the latest to be upgraded to a tertiary level to serve students of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in line with government’s vision of decentralising healthcare.
The 12-member board is chaired by Dr Felix Kwaku Anyah, the Executive Chairman of the Holy Trinity Medical Center, who is serving a second term.
He will be supported by Mr Ernest Yao Gaewu, a legal practioner,Dr Emmanuel Kofi Amponsah, a Medical Officer, Dr Prince Sodoke Amuzu, from the Allied Health Professions and a pharmacist, Dr Audu Rauf, as members.
The rest are; Felix Nyante, the Head of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Kofi Ampofo Agyapong, Victor Andy Danku, a businessman, Dr John Tampuori, the CEO of the Ho Teaching Hospital, Prof. John Gyapong and Dr Sylvia Ayeley Deganus, representing the University Council, respectively.
Administering the oaths of office and secrecy to the board members at a brief ceremony in Accra on Friday, the Minister expressed appreciation to the board members for taking up the responsibility to serve Ghana in that capacity.
He said, a lot was expected of the board members to ensure the continuous progress of the hospital in its present state.
Mr Agyeman-Manu mentioned issues of retooling, staffing and expansion works which ought to be addressed and implored the board to help in that direction.
“We expect you to find the resources to help run the hospital but let us know if you need help so we see how best we can support you to deliver the best quality of care.
We are also looking for some level of accountability with resources you internally generate and how they are distributed,” he said.
The Minister hinted of plans to “convert one or two more regional hospitals into teaching hospital in the next few years. Specifically, one in Sunyani and another one in Wa, and we hope we that will also help government’s agenda to bring quality healthcare closer to the people.”
He charged the board to work in unity to improve the work being done at the hospital, assuring them of the “open-door policy” at the Ministry.
Board Chair, Dr Anyah, on behalf of members, thanked the President and the Minister of Health for the confidence reposed in the team.
He expressed optimism that members would bring their expertise to bear, to make the Ho Teaching Hospital, a centre of excellence in healthcare delivery.
“The ultimate aim to make Ho Teaching Hospital a centre for health tourism and we are working towards getting international accreditation through medical tourism to be able to bring in the much-needed money for development,” he added.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
