The incoming Ahafo Regional Director for Health, Dr. Mrs. Akosua Owusu-Sarpong, has applauded the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health for their historic monitoring visit to the Goaso Municipal Hospital, describing it as a rare and encouraging gesture that brings hope to health workers in remote parts of the country.
A seasoned public health worker with an impressive career spanning multiple regions, Dr. Owusu-Sarpong remarked during the Committee’s inspection tour of the facility on Friday April 25, “In all my years of service—from my time as a medical officer and medical superintendent at government hospitals, to my roles in the Volta Region, Central Region, and Greater Accra—I have never witnessed a visit from the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health.”
She averred that sometimes working in remote areas feels like no one hears your problems but stressed, “Now they are here to listen, and for that, we are truly grateful.”
Dr. Owusu-Sarpong served at the Akuse government hospital as a medical officer and medical Superintendent, in the Volta Region as District director for six years, to Eastern Region as District Director for seven years, to Central Region as District Director for six years, to Greater Accra Region as Regional Director for one year and a half years before her new appointment to Ahafo.
While praising the Committee for engaging with frontline health workers, she used the platform to highlight critical gaps in healthcare delivery in the region, particularly at the Goaso Municipal Hospital.
She said, “This hospital is designated as a regional facility, but it is nowhere near the status of a true Regional Hospital. We don’t have a single ICU bed. At least two or three ICU and high-dependency unit (HDU) beds could save lives, especially for patients suffering from conditions like eclampsia. Without them, patients risk dying or facing perilous transfers on poor roads,” she said.
Dr. Owusu-Sarpong also raised concerns about the lack of a Regional Medical Store, which forces healthcare workers to travel long distances to the Bono Region in emergencies.
“We need your support to establish a regional medical store in Ahafo. Access to essential commodities and logistics is part of the WHO health system building blocks—and right now, we are falling short,” she appealed to the Committee members.
On staff welfare, she advocated for a public-private partnership (PPP) to develop residential flats for hospital staff.
“There is land available. If a private developer could construct accommodation for staff, it would greatly improve response times during emergencies and reduce transport costs. It’s something worth exploring,” she said.
Dr. Owusu-Sarpong reserved special encouragement to her colleagues stating, “To our hardworking staff—keep up the good work,” and appealed to the lawmakers,” And to our Honorable Members, thank you for your commitment. Please continue to advocate for us so we can build a healthcare system that truly delivers quality outcomes for our patients.”
The visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health forms part of a nationwide monitoring exercise aimed at assessing conditions in healthcare facilities and engaging directly with regional health administrators, staff and management of Government-sponsored hospitals.
By Osumanu Al-Hassan/thenewsbulletin24.com