Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) Ghana Foundation, the humanitarian wing of the telecom giant, has presented hospital equipment to the Chereponi Government Hospital to help improve health care delivery.
The equipment, worth GH¢ 51,450 included one laboratory incubator, one infant incubator, six pediatric beds with rails, six adult beds adjustable
with mattress, two laboratory my set, two caesarean section set, one biopsy set and one general operating set.
Mr James Bukari Basintale, General Manager for Northern Business District of MTN, who made the presentation on behalf of the company to the hospital authorities at its premises at Chereponi in the Northern Region on Wednesday said it formed part of activities marking the Foundation's fifth anniversary dedicated to "deepening our enriching lives agenda and impacting positively more lives of our stakeholders".
Mr Basintale also announced that the Foundation had earmarked an amount of GH¢ 114,520 to construct 10 boreholes in 10 communities of the Chereponi District to provide potable water to the people.
The communities include Kpani, Kpaboku, Kpamanba, Nawori, Sangbana, Dambu, Garinkuka, Danado, Tumpundi and Lalitani.
The MTN Ghana Foundation's benevolence to the people of Chereponi followed an appeal made to it by the Member of Parliament for Chereponi Constituency Mr Samuel Jabanyite to support the hospital to improve its operations.
Chereponi Government Hospital serves as a referral facility to the sub-districts, as well as provides expertise for quality and comprehensive health services delivery.
The hospital, even though is grappling with the challenges of overcrowding at both out-patient and in-patient departments, it has no medical doctor, whiles two medical assistants there have been transferred leaving it (hospital) with only two midwives and few nurses.
Mr Basintale commended staff of the hospital for their hard work, saying "despite these setbacks the staff and entire hospital administration have worked hard and chalked tremendous success".
He recounted some of the company's interventions in the region, saying "MTN Ghana Foundation has invested over GH¢1,106,000 in projects, which include the support to Zuyung School, Tamale Senior High School, Tamale Teaching Hospital amongst others."
He assured that the Foundation would continue to invest in disadvantaged communities in the region and called on residents to take advantage of the projects to turn around their conditions.
Hajia Adamu Yakubu, Chereponi District Director of Health Services, appealed to the Ghana Health Service to post a medical doctor, two medical assistants, three midwives and four registered general nurses and enrolled nurses to augment the staff strength of the hospital.
She thanked the Foundation for the gesture and assured that the equipment would be put to good use.
A speech read on behalf of the Northern Regional Director of Health Services noted the challenges of the hospital and assured that all was being done to post more doctors and other health workers to man the facility.