The Rotary Club of Sunyani East has donated Medical equipment worth $100,500 to seven hospitals in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions.

The gesture forms part of the Club’s objectives of augmenting health care delivery, particularly, maternal and pediatric health in Ghana.

Rotary Club, which raised funds with the support of Rotary Foundation and its international partners in Canada and other parts of the world, presented the equipment to the beneficiary hospitals at a short ceremony in Sunyani.

The equipment, some of which are already installed at the various hospitals includes, five incubators, four Blood Fridges, three patient Monitors, 23 Hanging Scales and 21 Vaccine Carriers. Others are 17 bathroom Scales, 23 Veronica buckets, 23 Examination Screen, 32 digital BP and 4 Autoclaves. The rest are an Ultra Sound Machine, 118 Digital Thermometers, two Centrifuges, two HP Meter and Strips, two Delivery Sets and two Nebulizers.

The beneficiary hospitals are Kintampo Municipal Hospital, Kwame Danso District Hospital (Sene District), St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital (Hwidiem), Goaso Municipal Hospital, Bechem Government Hosiptal, Wenchi Methodist Hospital and Holy Family Catholic Hospital (Berekum).

Presenting the equipment, President of Rotary Club, Sunyani East, Samuel Amemasor-Brooks said, “as Rotarians, it is incumbent on us to willingly accept to share all we have towards the cause of humanity”. And for that, he was grateful to his members and past Presidents for contributing their widow’s mite towards a worthy cause.

He told Joy News that they embarked on this ambitious project after a needs assessment in these hospitals. Thereafter, there was the need to supplement the work done by health professionals to reduce the rate of Maternal and infant Mortality in region.

The desire to supplement the work done by health professionals to reduce the rate of Maternal and infant Mortality in the region gave birth to the Rotary Foundation Global Grant.

The Sunyani East Rotarian President implored the beneficiaries to demonstrate good stewardship. “I urge you to put these equipment to good use with efficient maintenance culture”, he said, adding that “let us hear good feedbacks that will endear us to listen to you again whenever the Oliver Twist in you comes to bear”.

He further charged hospital staffs to offer their best in an attempt to reduce the staggering statistics on Maternal and infant Mortality.

“We are grateful for putting together these resources, that has accumulated to be able to procure these equipment for the benefit of our patients”, Rev Sister Comfort Michelle Afedzi, Administrator, St Elizabeth Catholic hospital, Hwediem said on behalf of the beneficiary hospitals, adding, they are also thankful to the Rotarians for having a merciful hearts towards the poor, the newly born, and other patients.

She promised they will ensure accountability for the equipment, with a pledge to use them judiciously. “We are ready to account for the all the things we have taken, anytime, because healthcare accountability is our hallmark”, she said.

She entreated other groups to emulate the kind gesture of Rotary Club, Sunyani, with a call that, “just like every human being needs support, the hospitals also needs support for efficient and effective health care delivery”.

Dr James Ankomah, Medical Superintendent, Goaso Municipal Hospital said the 2 incubators, among many other items received from Rotary Club and their partners will strengthen their aim of reducing neonatal deaths from 22% to less than 10% in 2019.

The Director of Administration, Brong Ahafo Regional health directorate, Nana Owusu Boampong said, the items will go a long way to ease the burden of the health facilities who are in dire needs.

District Chief Executive, Sunyani West, Martin Obeng speaking on behalf of the Regional Minister emphasized the importance of equipping district and municipal hospitals in the region. “It will assist us to ease pressure on the regional hospitals” he pointed, adding that there will be no need to refer cases to health facilities in the capitals.

He also urged the beneficiary hospitals to take keen interest in the maintenance of the equipment to ensure longer service to humanity. He appealed to health workers to emulate the values of Florence Nightingale by showing mercy and compassion to patients who visits the facilities for health care.

The international partners namely; Rotary Club of Nanaimo Oceanside, Vancouver Island Mid Group (25 clubs) and the Government of Canada, strategically supported Rotary Club, Sunyani East in sourcing funds from the Rotary Foundation for the project named, Seven Hospital Medical Equipment Project.