Mr Patrick Akorli (holding the bed), as Ms Tina Mensah (middle) and Mr Owuraku Aidoo (right) looks on admirably. Picture: DELLA RUSSEL OCLOO

GOIL presents 1,000 beds to Health Ministry for distribution to hospitals

Della Russel Ocloo May - 04 - 2017 , 08:51 2 minutes read

The Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL) has presented 1,000 hospital beds to the Ministry of Health (MoH) for distribution to the various regional hospitals in the country.

The company has also put in place a distribution mechanism to ensure that the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions receive 150 beds each, while the Eastern, Volta, Brong Ahafo, Western and Northern regions get 100 each. The rest will be distributed to selected facilities in the Upper East and West regions.

According to the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GOIL, Mr Patrick Akorli, the acquisition of the GH¢1.6 million adjustable beds formed part of the company’s corporate social responsibility to support health care in the country.

At a handover ceremony, Mr Akorli said GOIL had over the years supported the health and education sectors under its social responsibility obligations.

“Our goal is to see the delivery of accessible, standardised, quality, affordable healthcare services to low-income communities and the general public as a whole,” he stated.

Prof. Azuma Nelson presenting the beds to Ms Tina Mensah. With them are Mr Patrick Akorli (right)

Logistical constraints

Logistical constraints across health facilities nationwide, Mr Akorli noted, had contributed to the weaknesses in the health system, leading to poor quality services.

That, he said, was because health professionals were unable to deliver their best owing to such logistical constraints.

“It is regrettable to see pregnant women sleeping on benches in hospital facilities in this modern age.

“As a wholly Ghanaian-owned company, we are determined to support the health sector to ensure better efficiency in the sector,” Mr Akorli added.

While commending the company’s board of directors for supporting the project, Mr Akorli urged the Health Ministry to endeavour to dispatch the beds to the beneficiary facilities.

Commendation

The Deputy Minister of Health, Ms Tina Mensah, who received the beds, commended GOIL for the gesture.

She indicated that many hospitals in the country were faced with serious logistical and infrastructural challenges which needed immediate attention.

“The government has identified some hospitals that need to be reconstructed to befit proper hospital status, and we are seriously reviewing existing proposals for such purposes,” Ms Mensah noted.

She also said the Tema General Hospital (TGH), which was on the ministry’s priority list, would receive some of the beds. Ms Mensah further called on corporate institutions to also extend their support to the health sector.