The Member of Parliament for the Weija-Gbawe Constituency, Hon. Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has broken ground for the construction of a new emergency block at the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Hospital, popularly known as Akawe Hospital.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, Hon. Shaib emphasised the significance of the project, highlighting the long-standing need for a comprehensive emergency care facility in the municipality. “Today is significant because of what it represents. It represents a decision, a deliberate decision to respond to a real and long-standing need in this municipality,” he said.
The MP lamented the current state of the hospital’s emergency unit, describing it as “not the best”, and stressed the need for a more comprehensive facility. “The environment is not conducive for patients, and it’s not healthy,” he added.
Hon. Shaib revealed that the project is largely being funded through his personal resources, as the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) is insufficient to cover the costs. “My whole year’s DACF allocation is not even up to a million cedis. It’s tiny,” he said.
The new Emergency Block will feature a 25-bed male ward, a 25-bed female ward, consulting rooms, a pharmacy, a lab, and an ambulance bay, among other amenities. The facility is expected to improve healthcare delivery in the constituency and beyond, providing quality emergency care to patients in a clean and structured environment.
Hon. Shaib also criticised the government’s refusal to utilise the ultra-modern Weija Gbawe Children’s Hospital, constructed by the previous government, calling it a “shame”. He emphasised the need for the government to prioritise healthcare and ensure that facilities are properly maintained and utilised for the benefit of the people.
“We are not merely inaugurating a construction project. We are inaugurating a new chapter in the healthcare story of this constituency and its environs. We affirm that in Weija-Gbawe, we believe in the sanctity of life and that belief must manifest in the quality of care we are able to offer our people in their hour of greatest need,” Hon. Shaib said.
The MP assured that he would ensure the project is completed within the shortest possible time, despite funding challenges.
He expressed his gratitude to the people of Weija-Gbawe for their trust and support and acknowledged the dedicated staff of the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Hospital for their professionalism and commitment to delivering quality healthcare.
By: Boshyeba Kwabena Afriyie/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
