Editorial
Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital is not ‘a place of no return’
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah, has expressed concerns on the widespread belief that the hospital is “a place of no return.”
Dr. Ampomah claims that this view has caused fear in many people, and that fear has impacted the hospital since those people refuse to go to Korle-Bu when they are referred there for medical care.
When people refuse to seek medical attention in a timely manner, it has either made their condition worse for some patients or resulted in the premature death of many others.
However, Dr. Ampomah says that Korle-Bu is among the most effective hospitals in terms of providing healthcare.
According to him, “99 percent of patients admitted return home healthy after receiving treatment, contrary to the belief that people die when they seek healthcare here.”
Dr. Ampomah explained the situation at the first Korle-Bu healthfest and photo exhibition that was accessible to the public.
He said because of the false stereotype that you will die if you go to Korle-Bu, “people on referrals with various conditions stay away for many months or years and by the time they report, it might be too late.”
It is unfortunate that some people choose to stay at home worsening their health rather than visiting KBTH, despite the facility being a national asset that belongs to all Ghanaians.
The Spectator expresses alarm about this disclosure and advises the sick on referral to seek medical care at Korle-Bu without hesitation for their own well-being.
We entreat the media to be more cautious in their reporting to inspire confidence in the public and help them get the most out of the hospital, rather than listening to stories that do not edify.
This is due to the fact that patient trust in the hospital plays a critical role in the healing process when it comes to healthcare.
The Spectator applauds the hospital for taking the initiative to launch the patient feedback system in an effort to identify and try to address the specific problems raised by the general public.
It is encouraging that although some people are reluctant to visit Korle-Bu for medical attention, others choose to do so because the facility is staffed by highly skilled physicians and other healthcare professionals.
Presently, it employs more than 4,000 medical and paramedical personnel, seeing 1,500 patients a day on average, 250 of whom are admitted each day for additional care.
Being a human institution, the hospital may have flaws, so we implore all parties involved to stand by Korle-Bu and help position it to serve the medical needs of Ghanaians and other citizens. At the moment, Korle-Bu is the largest hospital in Africa and the primary national referral centre in Ghana.
In order to make the environment comfortable for patients, we also implore people and organisations to adopt and routinely maintain the wards in the various departments. Bungalows should also be renovated to provide physicians and other staff with a respectable environment to work.
Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital is not ‘a place of no return.’
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
