The Ketu North Municipal Hospital in Weta is facing a severe power crisis due to the breakdown of its transformer. The hospital’s management is considering a complete shutdown if the Ministry of Health and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) fail to take immediate action.
According to sources, the hospital urgently requires financial support from the central government to procure a new transformer and prevent a total shutdown. The facility has been off the national grid for over a month after a thunderstorm destroyed its transformer.
Currently, the hospital is operating on a generator, which is costly and has depleted its funds. A concerned worker, speaking anonymously, expressed worry about the situation, saying, “The hospital needs help or it may shut down or withdraw services.”
The generator power plant being used is very expensive, and the hospital is struggling to cope. Health delivery is affected, and services are being withdrawn, with the community standing to suffer.
The hospital serves as a referral center for numerous health facilities within and outside the Ketu North area. It has been struggling with this energy crisis for over a month, despite both the ECG and the Sector Ministry being aware of the issue.
No action has been taken by the relevant authorities, leaving the hospital in a critical situation. The hospital began operations just two years ago, with President Akufo-Addo commissioning the €14.5 million, 60-bed facility on October 20, 2020.
The hospital was funded by the Raiffeisen Bank of Austria and is equipped with various departments, including administration, outpatient and emergency services, inpatient wards, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, physiotherapy, pharmacy, diagnostic services, logistics buildings, a mortuary, and staff facilities.
The situation is critical, and immediate intervention is necessary to ensure that the hospital continues to provide essential healthcare services to the community. The hospital’s shutdown would have severe consequences for the people of Ketu North and surrounding areas.
The community relies heavily on the hospital for medical care, and its closure would lead to a healthcare crisis. The government must take immediate action to address the power crisis and provide the necessary support to the hospital.
The Ketu North Municipal Hospital’s power crisis requires urgent attention from the government and relevant authorities. Failure to act may result in the hospital’s shutdown, leaving the community without access to essential healthcare services.
