Akatsi (V/R), Jan 24, GNA- Miss Joan Eleeza, a Public Health Nurse in-charge of the Akatsi Health Centre on Friday appealed to the Ministry Of Health (MOH) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to upgrade the Centre into a hospital.

Miss Eleeza made the appeal when Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, Director-General of the GHS visited some health infrastructure to acquaint himself with the condition under which personnel discharged their duties in the Ketu-North, South-Tongu and Akatsi districts. She said apart from the Centre all the 11 remaining districts in the region have been upgraded to the status of a hospital, and urged the authorities to treat the issue very urgent.

Miss Eleeza also requested that a qualified doctor should be posted to man the facility since the people are lethargic to patronise the Centre due to the absence of a doctor.

"They would prefer to visit private clinics where they are charged exorbitantly than patronise a health facility without a doctor", she explained.

Prof Akosa told the health workers that the Service was working assiduously to better their lot including, conditions of service and facilities that would make them contribute their quota to quality healthcare delivery. He said with their demonstration of fortitude and forbearance in the face of unhealthy working conditions, "a change and improvement in the Service would be an added incentive for you to deliver". The Director-General appealed to the Akatsi District Assembly to as a matter of priority extend water from the 300,000 gallons capacity Small Towns and Villages Water project sitting at the premises of the Centre to facilitate quality health delivery in the area. Mr Dickson Mensah, Akatsi District Co-ordinating Director explained that the situation demanded a fast track approach and promised to start work soon. He was optimistic that a sod-cutting ceremony would soon be held to pave way for the beginning of constructional work on the district hospital. 24 Jan 04