The Medical Director of the Regional Hospital in Wa, Dr Robert Amesiya, has appealed for a dedicated electricity line to ensure that the facility has constant power for its operations.

He said power fluctuations can compromise the longevity of expensive lifesaving machines at that Hospital and stressed the necessity for the Ministry of Health to assist the facility to get a dedicated line that will not fluctuate as being experienced.

Dr Amesiya made the appeal when Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Bernard Oko-Boye, visited the Regional Hospital to round off his two-day working visit to Upper West.

Earlier, Dr Bernard Oko-Boye had a meeting with health staff at the Regional Health Directorate where challenges and the way forward were discussed.

The Medical Director, Dr Robert Amesiya indicated that though the Regional Hospital has been in operation since January 2020, offering some specialist services to the people of Upper West from a magnificent edifice, it has some hitches.

 “As a Regional Hospital, we are expected to have about 600 staff, now we have 200 staff which is about one-third but if you look at the rate at which the staff numbers are growing, it means that within the shortest possible time, we may reach our staff strength which is the norm,” he stated.

The Medical Director also hammered home the need for the Hospital to be supported with its ₵2 million seed capital to ensure smooth running of the facility.

“There were preparations to get us the seed capital but unfortunately, COVID-19 pandemic came in and it took the attention to that level.

“So we are happy the Deputy Minister Health Mister has come. We have reminded him we also need a seed capital so that we can we can approach [handle] all other conditions including COVID-19 pandemic that we are currently having,” Dr Amesiya indicated.

Dr Amesiya entreated all interested parties to play their roles well to prevent the situation where when people are sick in Upper West, they have to be sent to other Regions for medical attention.

“We are also appealing to indigenes of this region [Upper West], when people come in, we need to receive them well, pamper them so that more of them can come to join us, so that our people will live without fear,” he noted.

The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Oko-Boye stated that his visit to Upper West has been very meaningful and commented on some issues that came up.

“The Director raised something about seed money, very crucial, if you build a hospital and you don’t have seed money, it is difficult to start it. And this seed money is money you must allocate and disburse to the facility so that they can buy the infusions, buy the anti-snake drugs, buy the things that people will need.”

“Remember this is not a private Hospital, it is only private hospitals that will be taking care of you, take care of their cost and try to make profit. For this place [Regional Hospital], there is a social element that is why the seed money issue is important. That issue [seed money] too will be discussed with my boss, the Minister and I believe strongly that we will do our best to support the Hospital so that within the next six months, the Wa Regional Hospital should be able to come up from the 20% operational level to at least 50% operational level.”

Dr Amesiya conducted Dr Oko-Boye around the safe section of the Isolation Centre and obstetrical and Gynaecology Ward of the Hospital.

The doctor in charge of the Isolation Centre, Dr Emmanuel Steve Blankson, briefed Dr Oko-Boye and his entourage about the operations of the centre.