The government, through the Ministry of Health, has committed significant resources to the construction several facilities across the country, including the state-of-the-art children’s hospital in Weija to enhance pediatric healthcare.
Per reports, the development comes amidst growing concerns about the deteriorating condition of the Princess Marie Louise Hospital, the capital’s only public children’s hospital.
During an inspection of the facility, contractor on the site, Joseph Adams, with Awerco Construction Limited, said the new 120-bed facility, funded by the World Bank at $9 million, is already 65% complete.
Meet deadline
He disclosed that they were working to meet the September deadline for completion. He mentioned that the hospital will feature an emergency unit, neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, recovery wards, three theaters, VIP wards, imaging and biomedical laboratories, an outpatient department (OPD), and a mother’s hotel.
He stated that the completion of this hospital is expected to alleviate the pressure on the Princess Marie Louise Hospital.
This, he added, will also allow for essential future renovation works to be carried out on the aging facility.
Commendation
For his part, the Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, commended the contractors for the work done so far and urged them to meet the timelines.
He urged the contractors to employ the services of skilled locals in the community to support the local economy.
“This project is a testament to the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration’s commitment to improving pediatric care in Ghana. Once operational, this new hospital will significantly enhance healthcare delivery for children in Accra and beyond,” he said.
The Minister said the initiative is part of a broader effort by the government to improve healthcare infrastructure across the country with a special attention on child health.
Other pediatric care facilities
In Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, the 500-unit Maternity and Children’s Block at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) is also making significant progress. The new block is intended to replace the 45-year-old structure that was deemed structurally unsound and subsequently demolished.
The abandoned project was brought back into focus through the collaboration of the First Lady’s office, the Manhyia Palace, and the Multimedia Group, resulting in the construction of a Mother and Baby Unit to address immediate congestion issues at KATH.
Additionally, a 40-bed Pediatric Oncology block is under construction for the children’s unit at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. This multi-purpose, ultramodern facility being developed in partnership with private sector players, will significantly change healthcare delivery for the country’s future leaders.
The new Mother and Child Centre, a centenary project of Korle Bu, set to replace the dilapidated Maternity block promises to revolutionize maternity healthcare delivery at Ghana’s premier health facility.
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