Church to construct hospital at Apromase

Apromase (Ash), July 13, GNA - The Evangelical Presbyterian (EP) Church of Ghana, has embarked on a project to construct a 7.5 billion cedis hospital complex at Apromase in the Ejisu-Juabeng district. It is being implemented in three phases, with the first phase involving the construction of an operation theatre, out-patients-department (OPD) and male and female wards.

The project being financed by the Church with the support of both local and foreign partners would be completed within 12 months. Speaking at a sod cutting ceremony at the weekend, the Right Reverend Commander F.H. Gbewonyo (Rtd), Moderator of the Church, expressed gratitude to the American Leprosy Mission (ALM) for contributing a substantial proportion of the cost. He said the Church was motivated to site the hospital at Apromase to address the health needs of the area.

Rt. Rev. Gbewonyo said apart from the normal services, the hospital would provide specialists surgery to help curb the Buruli Ulcer menace in the district. "The hospital, when completed would serve as a referral hospital especially for buruli ulcer cases and for their surgical management, as well as provide a maternity ward to reduce the burden of traveling several miles for deliver babies," he stated. Mr. Y.A. Afrifa, District Chief Executive, said the District Assembly would implement a small town water system in the area estimated at 160 million cedis to ensure uninterrupted supply to the hospital. "The District Assembly will pay 80 million cedis while the Apromase community caters for the remaining amount involved in the project," he added.

Nana Kwame Addom Amankwah, Chief of Apromase, commended the Church for provision of facilities, especially in the health and education sectors.

He expressed his readiness to release land to investors and organisations for projects to reduce poverty and disease in the area. Present at the ceremony was Miss Linda Lehman, Representative of the ALM.