Major orthopaedic hospital gets morgue

Duayaw-Nkwanta (B/A) April 2, GNA - A GH¢ 240,000 ultra-modern-mortuary for the St. John of God Hospital at Duayaw-Nkwanta in Tano North District of Brong-Ahafo was commissioned on Wednesday. The Ministry of Health paid 30 percent of the cost of the facility whilst the hospital financed the remaining 70 percent through its internally generated fund.

Commissioning the project, Dr. Prosper Moh, Medical Superintendent, said the hospital was in the process of being accredited as a training centre for orthopaedic and reconstructive surgery. He said this was the collaboration between the University Hospital of Maastricht in the Netherlands and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.

"A mortuary with the possibility for anatomical dissection is one of the requirements for the training centre, he explained". Dr. Moh, an orthopaedic specialist, said the hospital provided health care services and specialized orthopaedic and physiotherapy services.

It is the only orthopaedic centre for the Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper West and Upper East regions.

The Reverend Sister Comfort Apedzi, the Administrator, said the hospital was established in 1955, under the National Catholic Health Service, with the mission of providing high quality health care in the most effective, efficient and innovative manner. She said the mortuary was the most expensive project funded from the hospital's internally generated resources and commended the staff and management for their efforts and assistance towards the construction of the facility. Dr. Aaron Ofei, Regional Director of Health Service, said a mortuary serves as a very important facility in every health care delivery. He cautioned the management of the hospital to maintain and develop the facility into a centre of excellence in order not to jeopardize the health of residents near the mortuary. 02 April 09