By: Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, KATH, is facing acute challenges with medical diagnosis requiring the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI and Computed Tomography or CT Scans thereby affecting accessibility to total medical care.
This is because the only available MRI machine is functioning at fault while the CT Scans are not working despite the strenuous efforts by the Hospital’s management to make it serve its purpose.
The Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, made this known in Kumasi at the handing over of a consignment of assorted medical equipment valued at 100 thousand Dollars by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has demonstrated across the world over the years its commitment to the ideals of Jesus Christ, which are healing, compassion and care for the sick and afflicted in society, through its humanitarian services. It is on this basis that, upon receiving a formal request to support the Heal Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital project, the leadership readily responded positively.
Heal Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital is an initiative of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu, in collaboration with management of the Hospital to comprehensively renovate the facility, which is not only strategically located to provide tertiary and specialized care to thousands of healthcare seekers from the Ashanti region and beyond.
In responding to the appeal for help, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints donated a considerable consignment of very essential medical equipment worth $100, 000 to support affordable and quality healthcare at the hospital.
These include 40 Cardiac tables, 15 electronic beds, 20 patient monitors, 15 hydraulic patient stretcher, dual ABS medicine trolleys, 30 folding bed screens, 30 wheel chairs, 15 crush trolleys, 40 drip stands.
The Chief Executive Officer of the hospital described the gesture by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as timely and invaluable considering the enormity of the challenges bedeviling medical supplies at the facility, especially the non availability of certain essential diagnostic machines.
“We’re grateful to the Church for the donation. As I said, we’ve a lot of needs, MRIs. There’s one MRI machine that is working at fault and it’s so expensive getting these items. CT Scans that are not working. We’re trying to bring these to life. In fact, we’re trying to fix these things but they’re as good as the hospital. So we’ll continue to use your medium to appeal to all well meaning Ghanaians for help”, Dr. Baidoo said.
He said the amount of funds needed to complete the ‘Heal Komfo Anokye Hospital’ project has gone up due to time and unstable economic factors.
The CEO appealed to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to assist them complete the project.
The 2nd Counsellor, Africa Area Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Elder Isaac Morrison, noted that, as a church that shares in the ideals of Jesus Christ, which involves healing, caring and compassion for humanity without any consideration of geographical location and economic status, it will not be weary in supporting projects that advance humanitarian interest, so long as it pleases God.
“These items are not merely tools. They’re instruments of healing, symbols of our solidarity and God’s expression of God’s love for his children. At the core of our faith is the eternal truth that, every person is a beloved child of God. Each life is so precious. When a mother in Bantama cannot access safe delivery care, or a child in Suame suffers due to the absence of medical equipment, we see not nust statistics, but sons and daughters of God in need. Every item donated has a purpose, a reflection of our obedience to God’s Commandments. Our Church cares profoundly, about loving God, about saving our neighbours and saving lives”, he explained.
The Ashanti Regional Director of Health, Dr. Fred Adomako Boateng, noted that, the medical equipment support to KATH will contribute to Ghana’s efforts at meeting the 2030 Universal Health Coverage agenda.
