By: Afua Asafo-Adjei
The MTN Ghana
Foundation has commissioned a 15-bed children’s ward for the Twifo Praso
District Hospital in the Central Region. The Foundation also provided
15 pediatric beds & mattresses for the facility and constructed a covered walkway linking
the new block to the old one, all at a total cost of GH₵ 150.000.
The
MTN Ghana Foundation is optimistic that the 15–bed children’s ward will improve
the quality of health services for approximately 2,000 people in Twifo Praso
and its surrounding areas.
The
Executive Director of the MTN Ghana Foundation, Mrs. Cynthia Lumor, disclosed
that her outfit decided to support the project because under its health
advisory portfolio, the MTN Ghana Foundation is committed to helping Ghana
achieve the Millennium Development Goal four (4) which seeks to reduce the
under-five mortality rate by two-thirds and to generally improve the health of
children by 2015.
“Recent
media reports suggest that we are making progress with the attainment of the
Millennium Development Goals, however medical experts say there is still a lot
of work to be done and all of us have to assist in making life better; this
forms the rationale for MTN Ghana Foundation’s investments in and focus on health-related
initiatives to support the improvement of health standards in Ghana,” she said.
She
added that the MTN Ghana Foundation was launched five years ago and has undertaken
numerous projects in Health and Education initiatives across the country, including
the refurbishment of the Korle-bu maternity block as its health flagship
project. In the Western Region the MTN Ghana Foundation has invested in the expansion
of the antenatal outpatient department (OPD) and renovation of the labour ward
of the Efia Nkwanta Government Hospital in Takoradi. It has also supported
Shama Health Post and Wassa Dunkwa District Hospital with medical equipment to
help improve health delivery in the region.
The Medical Superintendent of the
Twifo Praso District Hospital, Dr.J.B. Annan, expressed appreciation to the MTN
Ghana Foundation for their immense contribution and support. He stated that days
where the hospital had little space for clinicians to operate and had to pair
children on single beds while on admission due to limited number of beds were
over. He expressed optimism that the MTN Ghana Foundation gesture would promote
the delivery of quality healthcare services to patients.
Dignitaries present at the commissioning
included the Member of Parliament for Twifo Praso Constituency, Honourable Samuel Ato Amoah, the
Medical Superintendent
of the hospital, Mr J.B Annan, District Chief Executive of Twifo Praso, Hon. Osei Siaman Bossman, the Omanhene of Twifo Praso, Obrimpong Appiah Nuamah 11, Medical Practitioners and nurses of Twifo
Praso Government Hospital
