Maintenance and replacement of obsolete and ageing equipment is putting a strain on resources at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. In the first half of this year alone, the hospital spent over five million Ghana cedis to procure new equipment; while an unspecified amount was expended to keep others running. Chief Executive Officer, Prof Ohene Adjei , told a mid-year review session that management has had to work under pressure over the period. The Komfo Anokye Hospital has over the years relied on internally generated funds to maintain its infrastructure, which it claimed were inadequate to meet the growing financial demand in keeping equipment there functional. Acquisition and repair of dialysis machines, for instance, cost the hospital 180 thousand Ghana cedis between January and June, he said. He said surgical and diagnostic equipment as well as air dryers for the Ear, Nose and Throat Unit were acquired at 466 thousand Ghana cedis. These, he said, include acquisition of Adult and Paediatric Laryngoscope sets, Specialized Phonosurgery sets. Professor Ohene Adjei added that management is taking steps to seal leaking roof as a result of ageing infrastructure and also rehabilitate the main hospital block built in 1955. “Several other obsolete equipment in the hospital are also in dire need of replacement despite efforts by the hospital to use its own resources to address some of the problems,” he said. Professor Ohene Adjei expressed dissatisfaction at delayed in the completion of some projects at the hospital. Of particular concern, to him, is the 1,000 capacity Maternity and Children’s Block which construction began 37 years ago. “As we speak, the Maternity and Children’s block project which started in 1974 continue to remain under construction with no end in sight as to when it would be completed.” Though the completion of the project will ease the current decongestion at the hospital, its completion has been a mirage. In spite of the challenges, he said the hospital saw some improvement in the services provided. For instance, he noted, blood screen increased from 8,000 in the same period last year to 10,244 this year. Radio therapy services also rose from 1,333 last year to 3,872. Story by Ohemeng Tawiah, Nhyira Fm-Kumasi