Prof. Aaron Nii Lantey Lawson, explaining a point to Dr. Samuel Victor Bampoe during the tour of the New UG Medical Centre
The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Samuel Victor Bampoe, has embarked on an operational visit to familiarise himself with the progress of work on the new 1000-bed medical centre under construction at the University of Ghana.
Welcoming the Minister to the Project Site were members of the technical team, comprising the Project Coordinator and Interim CEO for the Hospital, Prof. Aaron Nii Lante Lawson, the Project Accountant, Mr. Michael Owusu-Ansah, the Project Quantity Surveyor, Mr. Peter Abalansah and the Resident Engineer, Togbe Baku IV.
Prof. Aaron Lawson (right) briefing the Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Samuel Victor Bampoe (Second from right) and the Regional Director of Health for Greater Accra, Dr. Linda Vanotoo (third from right) on the project
Briefing Dr. Bampoe, the Project Coordinator, Prof. Aaron Lawson indicated that the Hospital Project, modelled around that of Sheba Medical Centre in Israel, was the first of its kind in Ghana and in the sub-region. He noted that the project has been on the drawing board for several decades, and said that the University of Ghana has been committed to establishing a teaching hospital for the training of students as well as to give medical care to members of the University community and the general public. He noted that about 95%-98% of the core and shell of the project has been completed while for the entire project, 80% was complete.
Prof. Lawson also expatiated on the two phases of the hospital currently under construction. He specified that, Phase 1 which comprised 8 buildings would provide a total of 650 beds, while Phase 2 would increase the capacity to 1000 beds. The Buildings would include an Emergency unit, Imaging unit, Operating Theatres, Laboratories, Computer and Mechanical rooms, an Obstetrics & Gynaecology unit, as well as the Paediatrics departments with facilities for Assisted Reproductive Technology. There would also be a hospital administration, clinics and a theatre for day surgeries, Internal Medicine and Surgery, a cardiology ward and a cardiology intensive care unit with surgical subspecialties, a Medical Training Centre, Staff Cafeteria, a modest staff accommodation of 36 one-bedroom flats; as well as a maintenance/logistics building with kitchen, laundry, housekeeping, pharmacy storage, general storage, morgue and mechanical rooms.
He further noted that under Phase 2, there would be a Heart, Cancer and Rehabilitation Centre, as well as a Medical Hotel, Housing and a Dialysis Unit.
Prof. Lawson hinted, that as part of the project package, about 90 Ghanaian health and non-health professionals are listed to undergo training at the Sheba Medical Centre in Israel. He added that currently, 22 Senior Specialists and Consultants are in Sheba, and that 48 nurses, administrators, biomedical engineers, and pharmacists will also be undergoing training. The Hospital is expected to start running by June 2016 when recruited staff will undergo further training and orientation.
Hon. Dr. Samuel Victor Bampoe
In his remarks, Hon. Dr. Samuel Victor Bampoe who was particularly impressed with the hard work of engineers and workers at the construction site assured Prof. Lawson of government’s support towards ensuring that the Project is completed within the scheduled time to enable effective and quality medical operation, as well as to ensure that best medical practices are provided to patients. He reiterated the importance of keeping the cacilities in good condition. Present at the meeting were the Regional Director of Health for Greater Accra, Dr. Linda Vanotoo, Mrs. Lucy Ofori-Ayeh, a member of the Project Implementation Unit at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, as well as some media personnel.
The University of Ghana Medical Centre was initiated in 2011 through a Parliamentary and Cabinet approval. It is being funded by a loan facility agreement between the Government of Ghana and the Government of Israel. The Medical Centre is being built using the model of the Sheba Medical Centre in Israel. The Project located on a 400 acre land behind the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research of the University of Ghana, is executed by Messrs Engineering & Development Consultants Ltd of Israel with the Sheba Medical Centre as the Medical Consultants.
