Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) Ghana
Foundation has donated GH�160,000 towards the rehabilitation of the Kpedze Health Centre in the Ho Municipality.
The facility, which was partly gutted by fire, serves clients within
Kpedze Traditional Area and across the Togolese frontier including Kloto but has not seen any rehabilitation since its construction in 1976.
Mrs Rhoderlyn Entsua-Mensah, Health Projects Advisor of MTN Ghana Foundation, said the gesture was a corporate social and economic strategy to
extend assistance and responsibility to communities within its operational areas.
She said: "We are not only masters of telecommunications technology but we are also socially sensitive, without which we would not be in business."
Mrs Entsua-Mensah said similar social intervention strategies were translated into refurbishment of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the Intensive Care Unit of Prince Marie Louise Hospital at a cost of 600,000 and
91,000 dollars respectively, in addition to donation of medical equipment to health institutions.
She announced that as part of the third anniversary celebration of the MTN Ghana Foundation, 20 boreholes constructed for communities in the Upper West Region would be inaugurated.
Mr Emmanuel K. Bedzrah, Member of Parliament for Ho-West, pledged his support to the Achiever's Club, a non-governmental organisation in the constituency for the success chalked in rehabilitation works within 12 months of existence.
He described the project, being the biggest facility in the constituency, as timely and praised MTN for extending its social
responsibility to the Kpedze Community and urged others to follow the example.
Mrs Benedicta Galley, in-charge of the centre, said the facility had a Maternity Ward, Out Patience Department (OPD), Laboratory, Dispensary, Reproductive/Child Health Unit, Injection Room and General Ward.
She said OPD attendance at the facility grossed between 300-400 monthly with malaria being the highest reported case.
Mrs Galley said 578 malaria cases were reported between January to June with acute respiratory tract infection recording 305 cases, rheumatism/joint pains, 210 cases, hypertension, 142 and skin diseases, 122.
She said between 15-20 deliveries were recorded averagely each month, expressing enthusiasm that the rehabilitation works would enhance healthcare delivery in the catchments area.
Mr Churchill Amedzeame, Secretary of Achiever's Club, said three out of its 10 project's listed have received funding.
He appealed to other corporate and non-governmental entities to emulate the example of MTN to bring healthcare delivery to the doorsteps of clients in rural settings.
Togbega Atsridom V, Paramount Chief of Kpedze Traditional Area, praised MTN Ghana Foundation for extending its social responsibility to the traditional area and requested that it considered undertaking a fencing project around the Centre to secure the facility from pilfering.
He appealed to the Ho Municipal Assembly and Health Directorate to facilitate works on the access roads, provide streetlights and requisite
staffing to make the health centre a one-stop facility.
Togbega Atsridom requested a department at the Centre to be named after the late Charity Agbo, former President of Achiever's Club, to immortalize her memory and leadership qualities.
Contract for the refurbishment would be executed by Doelyn Company Limited, a Ho-based construction firm in 12 weeks.