Ghana National Gas Company has cut sod for the commencement of works on a 200-bed capacity hospital at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR).
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, the Chair of the University Council, Professor Nsiah Gyabaah, lauded the gas company for its role in the construction of the hospital. He expressed hope that the facility once completed, will not only benefit the university and students, but also the community at large.
Welcoming patrons, Prof Gyabaah emphasized that the University Council is confident the hospital will be completed to ensure its utilization and attendance by students, “people in the surrounding communities in order that we may be able to improve their health status and health conditions and also improve the health needs of students and the entire community at large”.
“There is a saying that he who brings health brings life, and therefore the importance of a hospital, even if it’s a clinic, to a community such as ours is a good venture. Therefore, it is with pride and excitement that I see this dream of getting a hospital for our university becoming a reality…”
Professor Nsiah Gyabaah
Furthermore, Prof Gyabaah commended the Vice Chancellor and his team for conceiving the idea of providing a hospital for the university and the entire community. He equally stated that everybody has a role to play to ensure the hospital project comes to fruition to the Sunyani enclave.
“To the dean, directors and staff, I urge you to continue to pray and support the VC as he tries to transform this university into a world-class centre of excellence…”
Professor Nsiah Gyabaah
Prospects of hospital to university and community
On his part, Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, stated that the decision to build a hospital within the University is not merely a physical infrastructure but a testament to the commitment of the development of the university community at large.
He explained that in a year, the hospital will serve as a heart for cutting-edge medical research, a training grounds for future healthcare professionals where lives are saved and transformed.
“It will offer quality healthcare to our students, faculty and staff and showing their physical and mental wellbeing. Moreover, it will reach out beyond our campus walls to provide vital medical services to our local community, bridging the gap in a healthcare accessibility and contributing to the overall betterment of our society and of course also contribute to the agenda of the Ghana government to provide healthcare for all.”
Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako
The VC took the opportunity to commend the gas company and its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ben Asante, for remembering the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), thereby providing them with a hospital that will provide quality healthcare to the university and the community at large.
Manager at Ghana Gas in charge of Corporate Social Responsibility, Anyimah Edomgbole, assured the gathering of Ghana Gas’ commitment to providing quality healthcare and in the areas of quality education, water and sanitation and sports to the good people of this country.
The hospital is to provide healthcare for students, staff, and the entire community in Sunyani and comes in two phases, with the first phase to complete 80 beds for a relocation of the UENR Clinic on the school campus.
If completed, the project will boast of specialist facilities such as a dentist block, eye clinic, OPD, medical block for both males and females, paediatric ward to deal with the care and treatment of infants and children, pharmacy unit, laboratory unit and main theatre.
Additionally, it will include a surgeon block, four consulting rooms (one for internal medicine and the other for child health), maternal health with its facilities and surgical consulting room, an emergency unit with its theatre, laundry unit, and administration block to house the health service directorate, among others.
The official sod-cutting ceremony saw representatives from the Ghana Health Service, UENR, the community, dean of faculty, lecturers and students.
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