The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Ghana is nearing completion of a hostel facility designed to provide accommodation for relatives of patients on admission. According to Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KATH, the project has faced delays due to contractor issues, but the management and Board are working to resolve the challenges. The hostel will offer temporary accommodation for relatives traveling from distant parts of the country to support patients receiving treatment.
KATH serves patients from 12 of Ghana's 16 regions and attracts patients from outside the country due to its specialized services. The hospital's Cleft Centre has treated patients from countries such as Mexico, highlighting the need for adequate support facilities. Dr. Baidoo noted that some relatives accompanying patients to KATH struggle to find affordable accommodation in Kumasi, as they may not have family or friends in the city.
Providing accommodation for relatives of patients is not part of KATH's core mandate, but the management has taken it upon itself as a moral responsibility. Dr. Baidoo explained that the hospital receives patients from diverse backgrounds, and some may not have the means to afford accommodation. The CEO emphasized that taking care of relatives is essential, given their circumstances.
KATH is engaging with individuals and organizations to support the provision of accommodation for patients' relatives. The hospital has approached the Church of Pentecost, which has agreed to fund the construction of another hostel facility. Land has been earmarked for the proposed facility near the hospital's Emergency and Trauma Centre.
Dr. Baidoo stressed that while KATH's primary responsibility is to provide healthcare, supporting patients' relatives is a collective responsibility that requires stakeholder involvement. He appealed to corporate organizations, faith-based groups, philanthropists, and individuals to support efforts to provide decent accommodation for relatives of patients receiving treatment at KATH.
The hospital has available land for expansion and will continue to explore partnerships to develop facilities that complement its healthcare services. Dr. Baidoo made these remarks during an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of the hospital's inter-directorate fun games at the Paa Joe Stadium of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.
KATH's initiative to provide accommodation for patients' relatives demonstrates its commitment to patient care and support. The hospital's management is working to complete the hostel facility and explore further partnerships to address the needs of patients and their relatives.
Key points
- KATH to complete hostel for relatives of in-patients
- Hospital serves patients from 12 Ghanaian regions and abroad
- Management seeks partnerships to support accommodation provision
