Man dies at 37 Military Hospital due to shortage of medical oxygen

Relating the series of events that led to the death of her cousin in her Facebook profile, Nana Kwakyewa referred to her late cousin as a prominent young man, a pharmacist, and a US Army soldier.

According to Nana Kwakyewa's tragic Facebook post, her cousin - who was a medical student in the United States - had been lodging at the Golden Tulip Hotel near 37 Military Hospital while vacationing in Ghana.

On Wednesday morning, June 14th, Nana Dankwa had allegedly complained of chest pains and was subsequently rushed to 37 Military Hospital (the nearest medical facility) via a local taxi. Nana Kwakyewa states that her late cousin, being one in the medical field, suspected that he may have been in need of oxygen, and proceeded ask a nurse if he could be given emergency medical oxygen upon arriving at the 37 Military Hospital.

"Please I'm dying, I can't breath properly, I need oxygen please..." said Nana Dankwa, according to Nana Kwakyewa's post.

Unfortunately for Nana Dankwa, there would be no oxygen to be had.

"Meewu o! Meewu o! Mep3 oxygen!" cried Nana Dankwa. According to the taxi driver who rushed the deceased young man to the hospital Nana Dankwa sat there for 10 minutes without being given the emergency oxygen he need to survive.

Eventually a nurse ended up taking an oxygen mask from another patient and giving it to Nana Dankwa, who ended up dying four minutes after being given the oxygen.

The other patient, who the oxygen mask had been taken from, also died that day. Nana Kwakyewa, who saw her deceased cousin's remains at the morgue saw both bodies at the 37 Military Hospital morgue.

It remains to be seen what exactly what caused the young man's death, and if indeed the use oxygen could have saved him.

Nevertheless this incident highlights the highly controversial issue of major public health facilities lacking the ability to provide basic firsd aid health care at fatal cost to patients.