Phase II of Tamale Teaching Hospital Commissioned
The Phase II of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) project has been commissioned in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital by the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu.
The 39 million Euro 400-bed edifice, fitted with modern equipment, has an Accident and Emergency Block, Medical Block, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Block, Mortuary, Medical Gas Building, STP-Waste Treatment Plant, and Walk Links.
Addressing the gathering, Hon. Agyeman-Manu said the spirit of the ceremony was to reinforce the Government’s commitment to improving health care nationwide, and this was in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
He recounted the redevelopment of the Tamale Teaching Hospital project, which commenced in 2010 and was completed in 2013. Under Phase I, the number of beds in the hospital increased from 150 to 400. Male and female wards, medical gas plant, diagnostic building, theatres, CSSD and laundry were added to the existing structures. With the new facility, the bed capacity has been increased to 800.
He explained that a number of staff bungalows were started as part of Phase I, which was funded under the government of Ghana budgetary allocation. These included seven units of flats and three unit bungalows.
“Owing to the critical condition with regard to staff accommodation, the government has earlier committed 400,000 Euros to complete some of these housing units to ease the accommodation situation in the facility”, he said and added that all the three bungalows and six blocks of flats under the project have been completed.
He reiterated the government’s pledge to make resources available for the completion of the rest of the flats by the close of the year. However, managers of the facility have a duty to ensure that the facilities are used and maintained properly.
The biggest challenge to the hospital, Hon. Agyeman-Manu noted, is the maintenance of facilities of the hospital. “It has been reported that most of the Phase I facilities require renovation even though the buildings and systems are not up to five years old. The medical gas plant, which was built under Phase I, completely broke down, compelling the Ministry to build a new gas plant”. He, therefore, urged the staff to help sustain the investments made in the hospital.
The Chief Executive Officer of TTH, Dr David Zawumya Kolbila, said management and staff of the Hospital have reasons to be excited because the new facility will go a long way to reduce congestion, widen the scope of services they provide and attract adequate skill-mix of critical staff.
He assured the public of their preparedness to put the facilities to judicious use to improve the health outcomes of the people within the catchment area.