By Isaac Arkoh, GNA
Cape Coast, Nov. 08, GNA - The Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Coast, one of the three psychiatric hospitals serving the over thirty million population of Ghana and neighbouring countries, has no Clinical psychologist, Dr Kwadwo Marfo Obeng, acting Director of the facility has revealed.
A clinical psychologist is a mental health professional with highly specialized training in the diagnosis and psychological treatment of mental, behavioural and emotional illnesses, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
However, the Hospital which needed not less than three clinical psychologists to attend to the daily psychological needs of the about 170 patients currently in its care is in dire need of one.
The acting Director of the facility made the revelation during a fact finding working visit to the centre by Mr Alexander Kodwo Abban, a Deputy Minister of Health on Wednesday, described the situation as unfortunate.
The services of nurses and doctors with psychological background are now attending to the needs of clients with occasional support from a philanthropist doctor based in the United States of America (USA).
Mr Obeng added that the centre lacked other psychiatric specialists, medical officers and proper security for health personnel, staff, and clients service providers, and called on the Ministry of Health to as a matter of urgency fill that vacancy for it to provide effective psychiatric care and services.
He mentioned security for its staff, particularly nurses living around who were threatened by some miscreants anytime the light went off in the Area and thefts at the facility as some of its challenges.
Touching on other challenges, Mr Obeng mentioned the deplorable state of some important structures, roads and equipment, high indebtedness of the hospital, inadequate funding, lack of vehicles, land encroachments and sand winning.
He, however, noted that the facility had increase its internally generated funds by 75 percent through a poultry project, occupational therapy project and laboratory services to neighbouring hospitals.
Also, they have upgraded two wards to VVIP status, restored industrial harmony with improved employees engagements and commitment to duty.
Mr Abban for his part, reiterated government's determination to provide the needed logistics and infrastructure for enhanced service delivery and commended the management and staff for their hard work.
GNA
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