Tamale Teaching Hospital gets GH¢1.5m Ebola centre

The Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) can now boast of an emergency centre to cater for patients infected with Ebola and other deadly diseases.

As the only infectious disease isolation centre, it is expected to augment the nation’s emergency preparedness and response to outbreaks of contagious diseases.

The facility has a capacity of about 20 beds, a water tanker and an ambulance bay as prescribed by the World Health Organisation in the wake of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa back in 2014.

The newly-constructed facility, known as the Infectious Disease Treatment Centre (IDTC) was funded by the Korean government under the auspices of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), at the cost of 1.5 million cedis.

A Deputy Minister for Health, Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu inaugurated the facility and thanked the Korean government for its humanitarian services.

Mr. Gyedu urged all health staff in the three regions of the north to take advantage of the facility and improve health care delivery in that part of the country.

“The IDTC needs competent staff and appropriate equipment to ensure effective and efficient delivery of suitable services to clients sent to the centre.”

The KOICA’s Country Director, Yukyum Kim reiterated the Korean government’s commitment to helping Ghana succeed in attaining her Millennium Development Goals saying, “the government of Korea will continue to be Ghana’s closest partner in development.”

The Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr. Azaawomya Akolbila commended the Korean government for uplifting the hospital’s image with the siting of the Center at the facility.

“I thank the Korean government for providing funds for the construction of the centre which is expected to serve the entire Northern Ghana.”

Dr. Akolbila underscored the need for government to make it fully functional.

“This place is situated in a lowland area and is therefore flood-prone. Extensive external works, including further filling, paving and drainages are needed to prevent the centre from flooding during the rainy season. Also, with training as part of its intended functions, the centre will need training equipment.”

“I wish to appeal to KOICA again, the Honourable Regional Minister and the Metropolitan Chief Executive to consider extending an access road to this centre and also provide a gated fence wall to secure the premises,” he added.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana