President Akufo-Addo, has appealed to hospital authorities at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), to as a matter of priority, ensure that they manage the facility under a prudent business model that will keep the it running as one of the best health centres in the country for the year to come.
In his address at the commissioning ceremony of phase two of the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), today 17 June 2022, at the forecourt of the hospital, President Akufo-Addo, said the second phase of the project which has been made possible through the 217 million united states dollars’ facility secured from the Bank Leumi, in Israel, must endeavour to be self-sustaining.
“The grant of this facility testify to the strong and productive relations that exist between the Republic of Ghana and the State of Israel, may they long flourish” President Akufo-Addo said.
“It is my hope that this hospital will be managed under a prudent business model to ensure that it remains the best for many years to come” the President added.
*Vigorous plan*
The guarantee of good health care in Ghana according to President Akufo-Addo, occupies a very important position in the priority lists of his administration.
To this end, the President says, his government will continue with it vigorous plan of ensuring that it leaves a legacy of strong, buoyant and ecological health system for the country.
“I want to reassure Ghanaians that the vision of government is to guarantee good health care for all people living in Ghana”.
“The Akufo-Addo government will continue to sustain its agenda of building a robust, resilient and sustainable health care system for current and future generations” the President indicated.
*Sacred duty*
Minister for Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, in his sector minister’s address, noted that the completion of phase two of the UGMC reflects government’s resolve to provide functional health facilities for the citizenry.
“The citizenry and the management of this facility have a sacred duty to ensure that these facilities are used and maintained properly” Agyemang Manu said.
“With these unprecedented investments by his excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the NPP government, we will complete the good works that have started for mother Ghana and also initiate more viable projects to cover the length and breadth of our country” he added.
*Three focal areas/ Staff*
Dr. Darius Osei, Chief Executive Officer, UGMC, in his welcome remarks noted that the second phase of UGMC has three main focal areas namely a 1,000-bed Clinical Services section, the biggest Medical Training and Simulation Centre in West Africa and a Medical and Scientific Research Centre that will serve as a central hub for local and international research.
He also indicated that the total staff strength was 127 in 2018. By 2019, it had risen to 315, 601 in 2020 and 809 in 2021. Currently, UGMC, he says has a staff strength of 1,031.
They are made up of 7 Consultants, 45 Specialists/Senior Specialists, 98 Medical Officers, 496 Nurses/Midwives, 188 Other Clinical Personnel, 178 Support Staff and 19 Management staff.
*The CSS*
The Clinical Services Section (CSS) houses the biggest Intensive Care Unit in Ghana (a 16-bed Intensive Care Unit) as well as the second biggest Cardiothoracic Centre in the country.
The CSS will have consultants, specialists and sub-specialists with expertise in areas such as Sleep Medicine, Sex Dysfunction, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Urology, Endoscopy, Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, Neurosurgery, ENT, Dental and Ophthalmology for the benefit of the public.
The Imaging Department of the Centre will also offer a 24-hour service and has a Cath Lab, a fluoroscopy machine, an MRI, a CT scan, a mammography machine among others to enable the public access these medical imaging services without delays.
Well-equipped MTSC
The second of the three parts of the UGMC phase two, the Medical Training and Simulation Centre (MTSC), is well equipped to offer health and non-health workers with training involving patient simulation, simulated clinical environments, simulated virtual procedure stations and simulated standardized patients.
Some of the training programmes that will be organized by the MTSC will include Basic Life Support (CPR) which could help save lives by equipping the public with the basic skills needed to quickly resuscitate individuals whose hearts stop suddenly or go into cardiac arrest before health professionals arrive at the scene.
MSRC section
The last section, the Medical and Scientific Research Centre (MSRC), will focus on epidemiology/clinical trials, cardiovascular genetics, maternal foetal medicine, regenerative medicine, transplant medicine, infectious diseases, and big data science.
UGMC
The University of Ghana Medical Centre Ltd (UGMC) is an ultra-modern medical centre offering world-class quaternary level Health services, Training and Research in Ghana, West Africa and beyond.
It is magnificently nestled on the southernmost tip of the University of Ghana, the Country’s premier university located in Legon, Accra and about ten minutes away from the Kotoka International Airport.
The Centre seeks to embody the spirit of hospitality which Ghana is globally acclaimed for and is focused on delivering an excellent and unparalleled client experience through the deployment of a customer-obsessed approach throughout every facet of its operations.
According to the hospital’s web page, www.ugmedicalcentre.org, the organization aims to be distinguished for world-class Health Care, Training, and Research while at the time, staying committed to providing premium Health Care (quaternary level), Training of health professionals and Research by a highly skilled and motivated staff in a friendly environment.
The construction of the UGMC commenced in 2013 as a turn-key project and Phase I of the Project was commissioned in January 2017. The Centre commenced partial operations in 2018. Phase II of the Project began in 2019 and was completed in December 2021.
Wilberforce Asare