MATERNITY BLOCK PROJECT ABANDONED FOR 35 YEARS (PAGE 29)

UNFULFILLED promises by successive governments have left the maternity block of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to stand uncompleted for a long period of 35 years.
The construction of the projects started in 1974 during the Kutu Acheampong regime but successive governments have reneged on their promise to see to its completion.
It is one of the single biggest project to be initiated at KATH and authorities at the hospital said its completion would help reduce maternal and infant mortality rate at the facility.
The Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, last week expressed disappointment at the long neglect of the project.
While attending this year’s staff awards and thanksgiving service of KATH, Dr Yankey promised to see to the completion of the project by the end of 2011.
“I promise that I will personally see to the completion of this project before the end of 2011,” he said,
The big question was whether Dr Sipa Yankey’s promise to see to its completion in 2011 would be a reality or was going to be one of those unfulfilled promises?
After 10 years break, the management of the hospital re-instituted the awards ceremony last year to show appreciation for hard work and to thank God for bestowing abundant blessings on the hospital.
In all, 14 people received awards with the overall best worker award going to Mr Chris Akanbobnaab of the technical department. For his prize, he received a brand new Tata Indigo saloon car donated by Ernest Chemists Limited.
Dr Yankey commended the Chief Executive of KATH, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, and his management for their impressive record in staff motivation.
He announced that the government had begun reviewing the conditions of service for health workers as part of efforts to explore ways to motivate them to work very hard.
So far, the committee working on the review had completed the enhanced conditions of service for doctors while that of nurses and midwifes were about to begin.
The minister said the enhanced conditions included pension benefits, accommodation and transport.
Dr Yankey expressed regret that in spite of the sacrifices doctors for instance make to improve the health of the people, they retired with “virtually nothing positive to show”.
He also mentioned the unfair distribution of health workers in the country, saying while some of the hospitals were heavily populated, others continued to struggle to have staff.
Consequently, the ministry had again begun an exercise to ensure equity and fairness in the system.
In a welcoming address, Dr Nsiah-Asare gave the assurance that the hospital would continue to recognise hard work and dedication to duty.
He, therefore, called on all staff to work extra hard in the coming years to benefit from future awards.