The Awosohene of the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area, Nana Dr Kwasi Sasu IV, has single-handedly rehabilitated and refurbished the children’s ward of the Akyem Oda Government Hospital.

The facility was in a deplorable state before the renovation works.

The project involved reroofing, rewiring and repainting the entire building, tiling the floor, replacing doors, furniture, louvre frames and louvre blades.

Other work on the facility included replacing the plywood ceiling with POP, providing beds, cots, foam mattresses, air conditioners, ceiling fans, television sets, 88 plastic chairs and some medical equipment.

The facility was inaugurated last Friday at a ceremony that attracted many dignitaries.

They included the Member of Parliament (MP) for Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah; the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Birim Central, Solomon Kusi-Brako; the Eastern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Daniren Punguyire and the Krontihene of the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area, Obrempong Gyamfi Saforo Kyereh.

Ceremony

Speaking at the ceremony, Nana Sasu stated that the project was initiated to mark his wife’s birthday and enhance healthcare services for children admitted to the facility.

He advised the nurses and mothers at the facility to take proper care of it, emphasising that “I will offer more assistance to the hospital depending on the maintenance you will provide for the facility for the next one year.”

Nana Sasu urged the hospital management to employ two cleaners in the ward at his expense.

The Regional Health Director, Dr Punguyire, expressed gratitude to Nana Sasu for his contribution towards improving facilities at the Oda Government Hospital, emphasising that commitment to child health remains a top priority for the Ministry of Health.

He also praised Nana Sasu for building a modern hospital for Akyem Asuboa South.

Dr Punguyire also urged the staff of the ward to attach special importance to maintenance culture at the facility.

The MP for the area, Akwasi Acquah, urged other affluent people to emulate the example of Nana Sasu by adopting and maintaining some of the wards.

He said that during his six months as deputy minister of Health, he managed to rehabilitate the deplorable female ward of the hospital.

Mr Acquah promised to work towards upgrading the Oda Government Hospital into a referral hospital.

He said steps were far advanced so that the entire road at the hospital would be tarred.

The MCE, Mr Kusi-Brako, emphasised that the Oda Hospital needed a complete facelift and urged well-to-do citizens from the area to complement the government’s efforts to carry out such a responsibility.

He gave an assurance that the municipal assembly’s share of the common fund would be used for the construction of a theatre to be attached to the labour ward of the hospital.