By
Bright Ofori Asiamah / Eshun Kaku Famiyeh, GNA
Apowa (W/R), Oct.
18, GNA – Most Reverend Archbishop John Bonaventure Kwofie, the Metropolitan
Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, has inaugurated the Sekondi
Takoradi Diocese Golden Jubilee Children’s Hospital at Apowa in the Ahanta West
Municipality.
He said the facility
is a modest contribution of the Catholic Church towards building a healthier
nation.
The hospital, which
has an OPD, consulting rooms, labour wards, children wards, changing room and
an injection room, was funded by Mrs Rita Zureich and her friends from Germany.
Archbishop Kwofie,
who is also the Apostolic Administrator of the Sekondi -Takoradi Diocese of the
Catholic Church, said “nothing was of value without good health and good health
was everything to mankind”.
He said it is in
this regard that the church decided to start with the children adding that for
a nation to grow healthier, there is the need to start with its children.
Archbishop Kwofie
said the facility would not be of any use if the staff are not committed, dedicated
and selfless whiles they attend to their duties.
He expressed
gratitude to Mrs Rita Zureich and her friends for the enormous support and
urged the people of Apowa and surrounding communities to adopt the facility as
their own and take good care of it.
He said the cliché
that anything belonging to government must be taken care by the government
should be ignored and urged them to take good care of the facility.
Reverend Father
Francis Quansah, the chairman of the Golden Jubilee Planning Committee, said as
part of the 50 years anniversary of the Sekondi Takoradi Catholic Diocese, the
church decided to put up three landmarks of which the children hospital was the
first on the agenda.
He said the
renovation of the Our Lady Grotto at Egyam, which is at its completion stages
and the residential apartment for the Bishop which is also almost completed,
are other projects to commemorate the jubilee celebration.
Reverend Father Eric
Elliason, the Diocesan Health Director, said full operation of the facility
would begin in two weeks and that for now they would start with only an Out
Patient Department (OPD) services.
He said they have
been able to secure two residential doctors, 12 enrolled nurses, 10 general
nurses, 8 midwives and 10 supporting staff and pleaded with people of Apowa and
it environs to help accommodate them.
Mr Anthony Kobina
Kurentsir Sam, the MCE of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, said the maintenance of
good health is vital and commended the church for establishing the facility.
He urged workers of
the facility to exhibit good attitudes and behaviour towards their clients and
also establish good inter-personal relationship with them.
Mr Kojo Kum, the
Member of Parliament for Ahanta West, said the facility is a manifestation of
the work of the Lord adding that it was not by coincidence that the Egyam
Grotto was also located in the Ahanta land
He urged the nurses
to discharge their duties diligently and welcome their clients with open arms
for such was the purpose for the establishment of the facility, and pledged 5,
000 cedis towards the operation of the facility.
Osabarima Kow
Entsie, the Omanhene of Mpohor, urged the people of Apowa and neighboring
communities to take ownership of the facility and to patronise it services.
GNA
