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The most famous referral hospital in Ghana, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), has no proper fire systems in place should there be a fire outbreak.
The facility, which was commissioned in 1955 and will turn 70 years old in 2025, attends close to 1000 patients on average in a day from 12 out of the 16 regions.
The hospital, the biggest in the Ashanti Region, is very strategic for the country as it serves as a referral center for a number of health complexities as well as accidents and emergencies.
At a media briefing ahead of a 10-million-dollar renovation plan for the facility by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the head of the architectural team Architect Kojo Darko Asante, Regional Engineer Public Works Department/ Metro Architect, noted that their analysis revealed a huge gap in a modern facility for a complex hospital like KATH.
He revealed the poor state of modern fire systems in place and lamented that should there be a fire outbreak at the hospital the situation could be disastrous.
“KATH does not have the right fire systems in place. If there is a fire outbreak, the situation will be dire. We don’t have water sprinklers in place. We don’t have a fire hydrant with Komfo Anokye, so even if there is fire and the fire service is here, it will be very difficult to fight the fires on time and this is a challenge” he shockingly revealed
“The facility, even though it was modern in 1955, today is outmoded, and we need to work on this to improve health delivery at the hospital”, he stressed
Architect Darko Asante also bemoaned the general state of infrastructure at the hospital.
“The wards are in a very poor state. We want to upgrade the facility so it meets modern standards. If you have had a relative here or visit someone on admission, you will know how the challenges the facility is facing”, he noted
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KATH , Professor Otchere-Addae Mensah, called for public support in raising the 10 million dollars needed to make the renovation a realty.
“I have had the opportunity to visit people on admission, and it is not easy. On average, we have over 36,000 patients yearly, from different facilities that seek health from KATH”
“For some of us, the only facility we know is KATH, KATH, KATH”
“I will urge, Ghanaians, to embrace this, we are about 35 million. If at least 1 million Ghanaians donate 10 dollars, we will be heading somewhere. Let’s all come together to support and make this work, “he pleaded
On the 10th of November, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is expected to launch the campaign drive to raise 10 million dollars for the renovation project of KATH.
The King has made it a pledge to renovate the facility as part of his 25th anniversary since he ascended to the throne.
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