WORK ON TAMALE HOSPITAL PROGRESSES (PAGE 3, DEC 4, 2010)

WORK on the €43 million expansion and rehabilitation of the Tamale Teaching Hospital is on course.
The project that began in May 2010, is scheduled for completion in four years. At the moment, the contractors, Simed International, are on site busily putting up a new four-storey block which would be handed over by December, 2012.
The entire project involves the construction of a new four-storey block, an accident and emergency centre and the refurbishment of existing facilities. Since its construction in 1974, the hospital has not received any major rehabilitation, leading to the deterioration of facilities and equipment.
When completed, the facility will serve as a referral centre for the northern part of the country.
The project is jointly being funded by the Fortis Bank NV of The Netherlands and the Government of Ghana.
According to the project director of Simed International, Hans Artz, the project would surely be completed on schedule baring any unforeseen circumstances.
He, however, expressed concern over the unreliable electricity and water supply to the site and appealed to the government to help address those challenges in order not to delay the work.
This came to light when the Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, and his deputy, Nasamu Asabigi, paid a visit to the hospital to inspect the progress of work and also find out the challenges faced by the contractors.
The minister, who was impressed with the level of work so far, commended the contractors and promised to liaise with the appropriate ministries to address their difficulties.
The acting Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr David Kolbilla, said the school needed a capital investment instead of budgetary allocations which he said was woefully inadequate.
He said currently, the hospital had a bed strength of 329, which would be increased to 400 upon completion of the rehabilitation works.
Dr Kolbilla who is also a senior lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS) Medical School and Consultant Gynaecologist at the hospital, however, indicated that, “this will still be inadequate because it allows for the training of only 50 doctors, but with a bedstrength of between 600-1000, we would be able train about 150 doctors annually.”
He expressed satisfaction over the growing number of doctors accepting postings to the hospital and disclosed that, at the moment, there were about 90 doctors including various specialists.