Freddie Blay Donates Ambulance To Eikwe St Martin De Porres Hospital

The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Freddie Blay has presented a brand new Ambulance to the Eikwe Saint Martin de Porres hospital in the Ellembelle District to cater for emergency relief services.

The fully equipped Ambulance is with one carrier bed, two accident carrier chairs, one electronic carrier chair, oxygen cylinders, and other consumables, to provide specialised services.

The Ambulance would help transport referral cases especially pregnant women, children and the aged with some level of comfort and also on time to referral facilities to avoid needless loss of lives.

The NPP National Chairman who was once a Member of Parliament for the area, made the donation during the climax of the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the hospital at the Eikwe.

The 60-year anniversary celebration was on the theme, “Sixty Years of Catholic Healthcare Delivery, Sustaining Gains, Introduction, Innovations Towards Effective Healthcare Delivery”.

Saint Martin de Porres hospital at Eikwe which was established in 1959 as Eikwe Catholic Hospital, currently serves a wide catchment area with an average of Out Patient attendance and admissions of about 100,000 and 13,000 respectively.

The hospital is a member of the National Catholic Health Service (NCHS) and Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG).

Handing over the keys to management of the hospital, Mr Blay said the hospital had saved a lot of lives within the Ellembelle District and outside, including him when he was a child.

He therefore commended the Catholic Secretariat for the establishment of the hospital in the area to save so many lives.

Mr Blay in a speech read on behalf of the First Lady Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, pledged that  the  Government was going to support the Catholic Secretariat especially the Eikwe Saint Martin de Porres hospital to grow from strength to strength.

He disclosed that within a period of three months the government would address some of the challenges enumerated by management of the hospital.

He said there was a plan for the construction of a District Hospital for Ellembelle and suggested that if possible, the funds be used for new a District Hospital should be channeled into the upgrading of the hospital to serve the whole District.

He said if the Chiefs and the District Assembly agreed with him, he would support the upgrading within the shortest possible time.

He pledged to support the hospital to become the best in the Western Region.

The Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah challenged key politicians including; himself in the area to support the hospital to become the best hospital in the area and Western Region as a whole.

As part of his effort towards the improvement of the hospital, the MP donated GH¢5,000.00 to management of the hospital.

He disclosed that during the NDC era as the Petroleum Minister, he lobbied for the construction of antenatal block by ENI.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Paul Cooper thanked Mr Blay for the kind gesture and assured that authorities would ensure the maintenance of the ambulance to achieve its intended purposes.

Dr Cooper said the ambulance had come at the right time and would help in referral cases.

He appealed to benevolent organisations to support the hospital to provide a new X-RAY machine to replace the deteriorated one.

The colourful ceremony was climaxed by a fundraiser to support the hospital.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Mr Kwasi Bonzoh on behalf of the Assembly donated GH¢6,000.00 to the hospital.

The Eastern Nzema Traditional Council donated GH¢3,000.00 and the NPP Western Regional Treasurer, Madam Anna Akaisi Horma Miezah gave GH¢2,000.00 to support the hospital.