The Government of Ghana is to commence construction of 150 bed capacity ultra-modern hospital at Abetifi, the district capital of the Kwahu East District this year.

Few weeks ago, the government and other stakeholders signed the relevant documents to pave way for the project to start.

Like all well established health facilities, all basic departments including out patient department (OPD), male and female wards, Pediatric ward among others will be provided. However, with governments resolve to integrate traditional medicine into health delivery along side orthodox medicines, traditional health clinic will be established at the hospital.

The welfare for health personnel have also been integrated into the plan hence there will be some bungalows, while efforts are also made to reduce dependence on traditional sources of energy with the introduction of minimal use of solar energy.

As of now, the Atibie Government Hospital located in the Kwahu South District serves residents in all three districts including Kwahu East, South and West Municipality and beyond.

Government through the Presidents State of Nation address early this year made clear its intension to improve health accessibility especially in deprived communities with emphasis on increasing infrastructure.

It stated among other things the following:

1. Construction of an ultra-modern, 600-bed Teaching Hospital for the University of Ghana.
2. Start the processes for the establishment of Regional hospitals in the Eastern and Upper East Regions. We will continue work on the Regional hospital project in Wa in the Upper West Region.
3.  Upgrade the Central and Volta regional hospitals into teaching hospitals to expand the scope for training medical doctors and other healthcare specialists.
4. Commence work on six District Hospitals at Dodowa, Abetifi, Fomena, Garu, Kumawu, and Sekondi. The refurbishment of the Takoradi European hospital will commence in earnest.
5. Initiate work on phase one of the Specialist Emergency Centre at Korle-Bu Teaching hospital.
6. Establish an additional 1,600 CHIPS compounds across the country by the end of 2016.

The rest include initiating the necessary processes towards the construction of Polyclinics especially in the Districts as well as regions that currently lack such health facilities.

Knowing well the task ahead is an arduous one, government also stated its preparedness to explore new modalities to increase private participation in the sector, mostly through public-private-partnerships to bring the needed investment, expertise and technology into the health sector.

Proudly enough, Kwahu East District is already enjoying some support in this regard through the assistance from the Government of Japan.

Three community-based Health Planning Services (CHPS) compounds located at Hyewohoden, Sempoa, and Agoadzekrom are at various stages of completion and all facilities have residential facilities attached.

CHPS compounds are usually target at providing reproductive health and other primary health care assistance to residents in deprived communities.

Another issue of delight to authorities has to do with the job opportunities that projects such as this will bring to the youth as over 100 of them are expected to be engaged for the constructions.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com