The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has presented medical equipment worth more than GH¢18.7 million to the newly constructed Mepe Health Centre (MHC).
The 40-foot container of items included hospital beds, ECG/EKG machines, ultrasound scan machines, endoscopy tower, x-ray machine, infant incubators, infant warmers, and autoclaves.
The rest were defibrillators, lab freezer, CPAP, labour/delivery beds, OR light, suction machines, patient monitor, oxygen system, pulse Oximetres, surgery tables, refrigerator for storing vaccines, wheelchairs, and sphygmomanometre.
Making the presentation on Sunday, Mr Ablakwa said the donation was another collaborative effort between his office and SOS International, an American Non-governmental organisation, after helping establish the John Evans Atta Mills Surgical Block at St Anne Hospital at Tagadzi in October 2022.
According to him, the donation was another intervention in fulfillment of a birthday promise to the people of Mepe to equip the MHC with medical equipment and supplies, following the construction and hand over of the facility by Citi FM Foundation and Ghana Chamber of Mines in April this year.
Mr Ablakwa stated that the gesture formed part of efforts to rebuild the community after the devastating spillage of water from the Akosombo and Kpongdams last year which displaced and ravaged the people their properties and sources of livelihood.
“I am particularly delighted that this new medical facility is in close proximity to the resettlement camp we constructed for the displaced,” he stated.
The items, which surpassed the requested list of items received from the District Health Directorate, would be distributed among health facilities in the area with a vision of upgrading the MHC into a Hospital status in order to ensure full utilisation of the equipment in which some were beyond the status of a health centre.
The North Tongu District Director for Health Services, Michael Kofi Zigah, commended Mr Ablakwa stating that an investment in healthcare facilities was an investment in the well-being of the community by ensuring that everyone had the opportunity to receive the care they deserved.
He highlighted the upgrading of Podoe and Torgorme clinics in the district into health centres, such as that in Mepe which had improved access to healthcare to the people who hitherto had to travel to Juapong to seek medical care.
Dr Zugah disclosed that similar expansion and upgrading works were ongoing in the district to bring quality healthcare delivery to the doorstep of the people.
The Chief of Mepe Traditional Area, Torgbe Korsi Nego VI, expressed gratitude to Mr Ablakwa for the numerous humanitarian works to improve the general well-being of the people.
FROM KEN AFEDZI, MEPE