The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) is rallying national support to fix its equipment deficit as COVID-19 bites the facility hard.

The facility has been overstretched over the last month with its 25-bed makeshift Highly Infectious Unit, created to handle only those who are critically ill from COVID-19, under pressure due to the number of cases in the region.

The Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Dr Oheneba Danso, said during a donation by the Forestry Commission to the facility that due to the central location of KATH, it took care of people from the middle and northern belts, adding that that had caused the facility to work under intense pressure.

Equipment

Dr Danso said: "For now, due to the lack of equipment, our main focus is those who are critically ill and how to assist them in their breathing.

"We have forwarded our request to the central government through the Ministry of Health and we are optimistic help will come soon," he said.

Currently, the Intensive Care Unit of KATH is taking care of both patients of COVID-19 as well as others suffering from other illnesses, bringing the facility under intense stress.

Dr Danso called for "an upgrade of the intensive care unit" to be able to handle the current situation, aside from the newly created makeshift 25-bed unit for highly infectious diseases.

He said the use of basic equipment, including overalls for doctors and sanitisers, had tripled since the outbreak of the pandemic, adding that “this calls for urgent and immediate intervention to save the situation.”

Donation

The commission, led by its Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr John Allotey, presented 20 pieces of infrared thermometer and a cheque for GH¢200,000 to the hospital.

The donation followed a request made by the facility for support to purchase some of the critical equipment to treat patients.

Mr Allotey said the presentation was one of many that the commission was undertaking in "these trying moments" as its contribution to saving the situation.

A similar donation had been made to the Tema General Hospital, he added.