MTN hands over accident and emergency centre to Atua gov’t hospital

The leading communication network in Ghana, Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN), has commission and handed over a GH¢200,000 Accident and Emergency Centre to the management of Atua Government Hospital.

In her address to commission the building at a short but impressive ceremony, the Corporate Service Executive of MTN Ghana, Mrs. Cynthia Lumor, explained that the MTN Ghana Foundation is focused on making relevant investment in communities across Ghana to brighten the lives of people.

This, she disclosed, has stimulated and motivated the management of MTN to closely work in partnership with stakeholders to identify projects which would help improve the livelihoods of the people.

"We are; therefore, glad to be handing over this facility to the members of this community. As you may all be aware, the Atua Government Hospital, since its inception in 1977, has been a referral centre for the people living in this community," she added.

Mrs. Lumor, who was overwhelmed with the hard work and dedication to duty of the management of the hospital, but was worried about the constraints of the hospital, said: "In this facility, emergencies, including accidents in this part of the region, have been attended to over the years because of its strategic location."

The hospital, according to available statistics, records about 250 patients per day, however, serious financial constraints have thwarted the efforts of management to deliver quality service to clients.

Mrs. Lumor mentioned that as her outfit continues to advocate for safe driving and a healthy lifestyle, the MTN Ghana Foundation also takes pride in the fact that it was able to contribute towards the constitution of the Accident Centre and Casualty Ward.

Touching on the Foundation, she disclosed that since the establishment of the Foundation, it had invested GH¢14 million in health, education, and economic empowerment, from which the Eastern Region has benefited immensely.

According to her, the Foundation had invested over GH¢1,318,251.66 in the areas of education and health projects in the Eastern Region. Under the health projects, mention can be made of the Kwahu Government Hospital, and Kotokoum Health Centre where among other equipment such as 10 incubators and five ventilators were distributed to the hospitals across the country to curb infant mortality rate.

MTN has further been awarded by the National Blood Bank as the Best Corporate Blood Donor in the country, following its national blood donation exercise held on Valentine's Day. In his welcome address, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Alexander Osei-Bonsu, mentioned that the most important and critical yardstick normally used to measure any hospital was responsiveness to emergency situations.

Dr. Alexander Osei-Bonsu said, there were some challenges, including the lack of a casualty and emergency unit and laundry. In its attempt to address the situation, the management of the hospital, according to the Medical Superintendent, a small room with one bed was converted into a Casualty and Emergency Ward, as well as a laundry where washing is done by hand.