The malfunctioning elevator in the Department of Surgery at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has been promptly repaired after the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, issued a 24-hour ultimatum to government.
This repair follows Akandoh’s recent visit to the hospital, during which he expressed concern over the out-of-service elevator and its impact on the hospital’s ability to efficiently conduct emergency surgeries.
In a widely circulated video, upon his arrival at the surgical department, Dr Adu Aryee, a surgeon at the facility, questioned the MP’s identity and authority to conduct the visit without prior notice.
We demand urgent fixing of faulty lifts – Akandoh fumes after storming Korle Bu
After the confrontation, Mr Akandoh addressed the media, expressing frustration over the encounter.
“It was brought to the public’s attention that Korle Bu has indefinitely suspended elective surgeries, citing faulty lifts as the reason. This morning, I decided to make an unannounced visit to see the situation for myself.
“Unfortunately, the lifts are indeed not working. We are here at the Department of Surgery, and the lift is out of service. The information we’ve gathered indicates that some of the lifts have been down for the past four to five years.
“For me, it is unconscionable for a major teaching hospital like Korle Bu to neglect its duty by failing to maintain a lift, which is essential for patients to receive the quality healthcare they need.
“It is unacceptable, and I am calling on the government and the Minister of Health to address this issue immediately. They cannot suspend surgeries indefinitely. We must see an end to this unconscionable situation within the next 24 hours,” he stated.
The hospital’s management confirmed in a Facebook post on September 2 that the elevator had been successfully repaired.
They announced that, it is now fully functional and operational.
See the post below: