Ho Teaching Hospital receives GH¢15m emergency care expansion from MTN Foundation

By Buertey Francis BORYOR

A newly expanded Accident and Emergency (A&E) block funded by MTN Ghana Foundation has been handed over to Ho Teaching Hospital in Volta Region, aimed at enhancing the hospital’s capacity to provide timely and critical emergency care.

The modern facility, completed and equipped at a cost of over GH¢15million, is expected to improve the hospital’s response to trauma cases, sudden illnesses and other urgent medical conditions while easing pressure on existing emergency services.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony,  Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer-MTN Ghana Adwoa Wiafe said this project reflects the company’s belief that access to healthcare is a shared responsibility.

“Health is life. It is not a privilege; it is a right. It is not a gift; it is a shared responsibility,” she said.

According to her, the centre was built to international standards and designed to ease congestion in the hospital’s emergency unit while improving patient flow and referral services across the region.

Also, Chief Executive Officer of Ho Teaching Hospital, Dr. Hintermann K. K. Mbroh, described the project as a crucial intervention that will significantly enhance emergency care in the region.

“Emergency care is the front-door of every hospital. In moments of trauma, sudden illness and crisis, the difference between life and death often depends on how quickly and effectively care can be provided,” he said.

Dr. Mbroh said the new infrastructure will strengthen the hospital’s ability to respond during critical moments when patients require immediate treatment.

He commended MTN Ghana Foundation for the investment, noting that the project demonstrates the value of collaboration between corporate institutions and public healthcare providers.

Expanded emergency facility fitted with modern equipment

The expanded A&E facility has been fitted with modern medical equipment, including patient and cardiac monitors, portable ultrasound machines, defibrillators with pacer functions, electrocardiogram (ECG) machines, ventilators and arterial blood gas analysers.

Other equipment provided include haematology and biochemistry analysers, blood storage refrigerators, infusion pumps, suction units, crash carts and blood warmers, as well as hospital beds, stretchers and examination lamps.

The facility also features an elevator to enhance accessibility and movement within the building, particularly for critically ill patients and individuals with disabilities.

Chairman of the hospital’s governing board, Dr. Delanyo Tsidi Dovlo, said the project marks an important step in the hospital’s vision of becoming a leading centre for healthcare delivery and medical training.

He noted that although the facility has been upgraded to teaching hospital status, more investment will be needed to support specialist services and training programmes.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Lydia Aziato, in remarks at the event called for additional partnerships to expand specialised services including cardiac care and maternal health. She explained that the hospital plays a critical role in training health professionals in the region and requires adequate infrastructure to support both patient care and academic work.

Meanwhile, Volta Regional Minister James Gunu in his address expressed gratitude to MTN Ghana Foundation for what he described as a significant corporate contribution to healthcare delivery in the region.

He said the project aligns with government’s broader vision of strengthening the country’s health sector through strategic investments and partnerships.

According to him, government has increased allocations to the health sector, uncapped the National Health Insurance Levy to facilitate timely claims payments and adjusted provider tariffs to reflect realistic healthcare costs – further noting that it is expanding specialised services at teaching hospitals to reduce overseas referrals while positioning the country as a destination for medical care within the region.

He described the facility as a critical investment that will improve the hospital’s ability to manage trauma and other urgent medical conditions while reducing the need for referrals outside the region. He urged hospital authorities to maintain the facility properly and ensure the equipment provided is used effectively to deliver quality care to patients.

MTN Foundation has undertaken several community projects in Volta Region over the years, including constructing a 60-bed maternity and neonatal intensive care unit at Keta Municipal Hospital, refurbishing the Kpedze Health Centre and providing a potable water system at Kpeve.

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