Lambussie MP and member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, Professor Titus Beyuo, has praised the Sunyani Teaching Hospital for its exceptional clinical performance, particularly celebrating the survival of a baby born at just 25 weeks, who turns three this year.
He described the survival story as a remarkable achievement that deserves national recognition.
Speaking to the media after a tour of the facility, Prof. Beyuo stated, “What stands out for me is that, in addition to delivering excellence, they have demonstrable results that we can see.”
“I was touched at the Pediatric Intensive Care and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to know that a 25-week pregnancy ended and the baby has survived in this hospital and is three years old now. I think this is a story that must be told. And we must commend the staff here for delivering excellent care to achieve such a feat.”
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.
Prof. Beyuo also emphasized the urgent need to fast-track the accreditation process for establishing a medical school affiliated with the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) to complement the hospital’s teaching status.
According to him, the Health Committee has had a review of the teaching hospital, and one of the major counterpoints was the appeal to the government to facilitate the accreditation process for the medical school.
He said, “You know how many people have to send their relatives and kids out of this country, to Russia, to Ukraine, to warring countries, just to achieve their dreams of studying medicine. If we can get the university to establish a medical school here, imagine the relief it will bring to parents and potential medical students.”
He insisted that while the accreditation process must maintain rigorous standards to ensure the quality of medical training, the potential benefits are enormous.
He stressed that from Kumasi to Tamale, there is no other medical school and therefore establishing one in Sunyani will serve the Bono, Ahafo, and Bono East regions and beyond.
Prof. Beyuo lauded the Sunyani Teaching Hospital’s strategic investment in information technology, describing it as a model for other health facilities.
“It’s a relatively new teaching hospital, but they have invested a lot in IT. That is the way to go. It is something all other hospitals must learn from Sunyani Teaching Hospital, and we commend them highly for it,” he said.
He assured the public that critical gaps in medical equipment and infrastructure would soon be addressed, stressing the commitment of former President John Dramani Mahama to quality healthcare.
He averred that health facilities are struggling in terms of logistics today because, for more than eight years, there has not been any serious, bold intervention in medical equipment replacement or procurement by the NPP administration.
“Remember, it was President Mahama who, in 2014, brought in a lot of hospital equipment. He has boldly stated that he will take steps again to ensure comprehensive medical equipment replacement in all the major hospitals in this country because he believes in quality health delivery.”
He urged Ghanaians to have hope because President Mahama will bring a lot of good things that will promote quality healthcare delivery.
ALSO READ: