Power Cuts Hamper Use Of Korle-Bu Surgical Department

Accra,(Greater Accra) 24 Oct. Theatres at the Surgical Department of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital are not being utilised due to constant power failure. Commodore Kwame Pumpuni (Rtd), Chief Administrator of the Hospital, said power fluctuations are affecting the use of all other equipment at the newly rehabilitated surgical block. The situation has compelled the hospital administration to find other sources of generating power at a very high cost. Commodore Pumpuni was briefing the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Health which inspected three health facilities in Accra yesterday. Members of the committee, accompanied by Mr Samuel Nuamah- Donkor, Deputy Minister of Health, visited the La Polyclinic, Ridge Hospital and the Korle Bu Teaching hospital. Commodore Pumpuni recounted several other problems facing the smooth running of the hospital - inadequate funding, staffing and congestion. He said funds for the last quarter of the year have still not been released and most of the time, the hospital is compelled to work on only 43 per cent of its total budget. The problem of funds is also affecting the recruitment of staff. At the moment the hospital has no Estate Manager, Public Relations Officer and a trained Personnel Manager, the Chief Administrator said. Dr Felicia Barte-Plange, Principal Medical officer in charge of the La Polyclinic, called for the establishment of a proper trauma centre at the clinic. Dr Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Specialist in charge of the Cardio Unit, said specialist doctors should be trained in Ghana.