The 130-bed health services and diagnostic centre easily passes for a municipal hospital, given its capacity to provide specialist services in gynaecology, obstetrics, neurology, orthopaedics, paediatrics and general medical practice.

Known as the Chrispod Hospital and Diagnostics Centre, (CHDC) it also has a renal treatment centre with modern dialysis machines to offer healthcare services to people in the Ga East Municipality and surrounding areas.

At the inauguration of the hospital yesterday, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Eli Atikpui, decried the increasing rate of renal (kidney malfunction) diseases, particularly among children, stressing that this step had become necessary due to the increased number of kidney problems in the country.

He said in the past, renal disease had been common among the elderly, noting, however, that "these days, children as young as 12 years were being diagnosed with the disease. This is one major area we will focus on".

The centre currently has 35 staff, and authorities of the centre said they were hopeful that the number would increase to 140 within a year.

Giving to society

The Founder of the health centre, Mr Christian Kpodo, said the project was born out of an unpleasant experience he encountered some years back.

“I want to leave this world knowing that I helped to make the society better. Dreams do come through, and I am a testimony. About five years ago, I had an unfriendly experience at a hospital. That was when I told myself I would do this, and today we are here.

“COVID-19 also opened my eyes to the many loopholes in our health system, and that also motivated me to speed things up and get this place up and running,” he said.

He encouraged businessmen in Ghana to follow his footstep and give back to society.

“I am calling on all businessmen to do what they can to help the community, let us not leave everything for the government to do, they cannot do it all, let’s also contribute. This is my way of giving back and improving society; it is my prayer that we replicate our services to other regions,” he noted.

Mr Kpodo thanked his mother, Mrs Charity Kpodo, for the support and encouragement, and lauded her for standing by him through it all.

“She has been my rock in all my struggles to where I am today; she has been very instrumental. When I mentioned my plans to her, she urged me to do all I can to make it possible, I am grateful,” he said.

Dr Atikpui said there were plans to move the facility to the next level within a year by offering services for dental and ophthalmology cases, among others.

Entrepreneurship lauded

The Volta Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Mr Henry Ametefe, lauded Mr Kpodo for the sterling project he had done for the Dome community, stressing that: “We need these type of people whose motive is to do good, not only for themselves and family but the nation as a whole”.

The facility has consulting rooms, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment, a pharmacy, surgical theatres, six delivery units, a morgue, among others, in a disability and old age-friendly environment.

The occasion was graced by traditional leaders, politicians and a section of the public.