A delegation from the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, led by the committee’s Vice Chairman, Hon. Sebastian Ngmenenso Sandaare, MP for Daffiama/Bussie/Issa constituency, has paid a visit to the St. Anne’s Catholic Hospital in Damongo, which currently serves as the regional hospital for the Savannah Region.
The visit aimed to assess the current state of healthcare infrastructure, identify pressing challenges, and develop actionable solutions to improve healthcare delivery at the facility. Hon. Sandaare, who led the team, briefed the media on the purpose of the visit, stating that the team sought to gain first-hand insight into the operations, conditions, and challenges of the hospital.
The team was impressed with the hospital’s sanitation and environmental conditions, and the committee will ensure the government addresses the concerns raised, including the issues of water and electricity power related to a faulty transformer. Hon. Sandaare emphasized the government’s commitment to equity in healthcare, citing President Mahama’s “Mahama Cares” policy, which aims to ensure every Ghanaian has access to quality healthcare.
The Medical Director of the hospital and a general surgeon, Dr. Nelson Agboadoh, highlighted the hospital’s major challenges, including the lack of a befitting maternity ward, staffing deficits, particularly in pharmacy and internal audit, and the absence of critical equipment such as MRI, CT-Scan, and dialysis machines. He also mentioned the electricity challenge, as the hospital shares a transformer with the entire Damongo community.
Other challenges include the increasing number of chemical shops in the area, which affects outpatient department (OPD) attendance, as patients often resort to purchasing drugs from these shops instead of visiting the hospital. Dr. Agboadoh revealed that stroke is the leading cause of mortality in the hospital, with hypertension patients often seeking treatment at chemical shops instead of the hospital. He expressed gratitude for the team’s visit and hoped that their concerns would be addressed timely.
The team visited various facilities and departments of the hospital, including the laboratory, OPD, maternity ward, and antenatal unit. The Committee is calling on stakeholders, health workers, and hospital administrators to actively engage with subsequent visiting teams and share valuable insights that could contribute to long-term improvements in Ghana’s healthcare system.
As the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health continues its oversight work, this initiative reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that every citizen has access to a robust and responsive healthcare system.
