Asante Zongo Youth Union Donates Towards ‘Heal KATH’
The Asante Zongo Youth Union (AZOYU) has contributed their quota towards the Heal Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Project which was launched last month by His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The youth gave out GHC5,000 during the last Awukudae festival at the Manhyia Palace on December 20, 2023.
The group was led to the Palace by the Asanteman Zongo Nkosuohene, Alhaji Abdul Ali Barry.
The project is aimed at mobilising US$10 million to address the urgent need for infrastructural improvements in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Ghana’s second-largest teaching hospital, which receives referrals from 12 out of the 16 regions of Ghana, through the solicitation of funds.
Hailing Otumfuo for spearheading the project during its launch on November 10, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KATH, Prof Otchere Addai-Mensah, said the renovation had been on the drawing board of the hospital Board for the last 50 years but had to be shelved due to lack of funds.
He highlighted that persistent over-utilisation and consequent wear and tear over the years have made the structure unfit for the provision of contemporary healthcare services.
“Plumbing, electrical wires, windows, roofing, washrooms and all ancillary facilities have for years now deteriorated beyond maintenance,” he listed as he explained the structure has never tasted renovation since its existence.
Speaking at the event, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II characterized the current state of the hospital as embarrassing and stressed the urgent need to raise funds to attend to the building which is close to 70 years old.
“12 of 16 regions have their patients referred here. Patients get drenched when it rains and the exposed wires can cause fire outbreaks when rainwater comes into contact with the wires. Even the new emergency ward is in dire need of renovation. We will be brought to this hospital when the need arises and so there is a need to work it out.”
According to him, the project cannot wait for any government since many governments reigned and ended their tenure without any particular attention to the hospital.
“Governments come and go but the building remains and it is up to us to renovate it. It shouldn’t therefore be politicised….Though the amount is huge, if each household on this land decided to contribute each month, we would go a long way to heal the hospital.”
