Editorial
We commend government for Agenda 111
Under a special programme of development for the health sector known as Agenda 111, the government under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has outlined the building of hospitals throughout the country totalling 111.
The Spectator is very happy about this programme because of its significance to the people of Ghana.
First of all, the health needs of Ghanaians cannot be compromised under any circumstances. Secondly, it will help to bring massive improvement in the lives of people.
Thirdly, the project will give employment to people in the building and construction sector. In a way, this will help to reduce the rate of unemployment, no matter how little, in this country.
Fourthly, the project will help in the employment of a number of health professionals in the health sector including medical doctors, nurses, laboratory assistants and many others. All these will inure to the benefit of this country.
Health does not necessarily refer to the absence of disease, but according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), good health depends on our ability to have peace to create activities that lead to socio-economic development of people. This means that if people are hindered by obstacles that make it possible for them to promote development in their lives, the state of health cannot be said to be good.
The general atmosphere of peace in the country, together with the availability of enough supply of food due to the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme as well as the guarantee of security for the nation bears testimony to the fact that Ghana is not only enjoying the fight against diseases, but total peace as well. Thus, Ghanaians are enjoying good health, according to the WHO criteria for health.
Ghanaians must be proud of this NPP-led government for this extraordinary initiative of the biggest investment in this sector since independence. What it means is that every district will have its own hospital, all totalling 88 while regions without such facilities will also have theirs to cover the regional status.
Good health impacts economic growth in several ways. It makes medical care easily available to the people. The end result is that the people can be made strong to go about their duties. Again, when this happens it leads to increase in productivity because of a reduction in illness on the part of the people.
We need to commend the government for a great job done and since these are to be completed within 18 months, it means that by early 2023, even if six more months are added to the deadline, every district in Ghana will have its own hospital.
Similarly, the regional hospitals which are also to start later this year will be completed by the middle or third quarter of 2022.
The issue of diseases such as Ebola gained prominence in certain parts of Africa because of lack of quality medical facilities. For this reason, the hospitals being built throughout the country, in addition to those being built under different projects will make the country independent in terms of health.
Countries with strong medical systems are able to cater well for their citizens in terms of quality medical care. This is because the availability of such medical care systems makes it possible for easy access to healthcare.
If the hospitals concentrated in one area, the rest of the country would suffer in terms of provision of quality care towards the treatment of the people.
It is for this reason that the establishment of hospitals in all regions and districts will serve a good purpose as far as medical care is concerned. Another good thing is that all the hospitals will be fully equipped with modern gadgets, so as to ensure easy diagnosis and care for patients.
Dear Editor,
I WRITE to condemn the circumstances under which an accident victim died recently after three major hospitals reportedly turned him away due to what has earned a place in our local parlance as ‘no bed syndrome.’
Reports suggested that this motor rider who got knocked by a vehicle was taken to three major hospitals – Police Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital), and the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital – but they all claimed they had no beds.
But one may ask, would there ever be beds?
Such is the treatment Ghanaians endure every now and then when one visits our hospitals, especially the public ones which are run with the taxpayers’ money. Many a time when one visits the hospitals, the sight of patients admitted and lying on benches, and some sitting on chairs while receiving care, is visible to all; making one wonder why this particular motor rider was not admitted at any of the facilities, looking at his condition.
This leads to the reason for this letter, which is to bring out a perceived apathy against these motor riders, the majority of whom are referred to as ‘Okada’ riders.
Due to their recklessness on the roads and the inconvenience caused to commuters, people always speak ill about them; drivers equally have no regard for them. Every user of public transport would attest to this. These riders are blamed for every offence, even when it is obvious drivers may be at fault sometimes.
Motor riders have become like orphans on the road; people care less about them, and when they are unfortunately knocked down, no one cares about them.
This is the mischief our authorities and agencies, including the police, must seek to cure to make the road safe for all users.
These are young folks that want to make a living for themselves, and with no skill or education, ‘Okada’ rides have become their source of livelihood. They need the protection accorded drivers and commuters as well.
In other countries, some facilities have been provided to make their work safer, but in Ghana, we lack them, leaving them with no alternative than to share the available space with the cars.
What has happened should serve as a wake-up call on our authorities to aim to take a second look at the ‘Okada’ menace. With the numbers increasing, there should be a way to regulate them because no government would have the guts to ban it totally.
Drivers should be made to accept the reality that they are sharing the roads with them, and therefore the need for patience and tolerance.
For some of our hospitals, I suggest the Ministry of Health conduct their own investigations to see what patients go through in accessing medicare, which is even not for free.
Thank you, Editor, for the space.
F. Morgan, Kokrobite
Dear Editor,
THE heartbreaking death of 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah in a hit-and-run accident has exposed once again the failures in our health system.
Even more painful is the fact that his father had previously donated beds to some hospitals, yet when his son needed urgent care, he was moved from one facility to another because there were ‘no beds.’
This is not only tragic but unacceptable. How can a country lose its bright young citizens simply because hospitals cannot provide emergency treatment? The ‘no bed syndrome’ has become a national disgrace, and Charles’ death is a reminder that reforms cannot wait.
Our hospitals must be equipped to handle emergencies, and accountability must be enforced. If donations are made to improve facilities, then those facilities must serve the people when it matters most. Ghana cannot afford to keep losing lives to negligence and poor infrastructure.
Charles Amissah’s death should be the turning point. Let us honor his memory by fixing the system so that no family would suffer this kind of preventable loss again.
Princess Wonovi
Accra
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