Crew members of foreign vessels have vowed never to seek healthcare at the Takoradi Port Health Clinic, because of the Clinic's deplorable conditions.

They say the health facility is operating below international practices.

Some of them have even refused to be vaccinated at the health centre for fear of contracting diseases due to unsanitary conditions, reports Nana Adjoa Entsuah of Takoradi-based Radio Maxx.

“One can easily tell that the building has not seen any major refurbishment since it was handed over by Sir Gordon Guggisberg, Governor of Ghana – then Gold Coast – in the 1920s,” the Radio Maxx reporter observes.

There are no fridges to store vaccination and other essential drugs, making work for health personnel a daunting task.

The facility has also been grappling with water and electricity problems for many years.

Superintendent of the Takoradi Port Health Centre, Edward Saka, admits the facility’s challenges have intensified over the last couple of months because of lack of support from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHAPOHA).

“For about two months now, we are finding it difficult to put lights here. We have problems with water because we are supposed to pay GHAPOHA for the water that they provide, and so the water supply has not been regular,” he said.

The facility was established to aid in the prevention of disease transfer from other sea ports to Ghana.

The Takoradi Port Clinic played a key role in screening crew members of foreign vessels during the nationwide campaign to prevent the deadly Ebola virus from entering Ghana.

The core function of the clinic includes provision of vaccination to foreign crew members who arrive via the Takoradi Port, however, with the deplorable state of the clinic, that function has been thrown in limbo.