World Day of the sick launched at Apam
Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, the Gomoa West District Chief Executive (DCE), has assured Ghanaians that government was committed to improving the health status of all its citizenry.
He said provision of health facilities in the communities nationwide attested to the government’s determination to bring health delivery to the door steps of Ghanaians.
The DCE said this during the launch of the World Day of the sick at Apam.
He expressed concern about the poor relationship between some health workers and patients, and appealed to show love and compassion to patients as their recovery became quicker and faster when they got such a support.
The Most Reverend Matthias Kobena Nketsiah, Archbishop of Cape Coast, who launched the Day on the theme, “go and do likewise”, said the Catholic Church was concerned with healing because it wanted to continue with the work of Jesus Christ when he came to the world.
He urged health workers to make patients see God through them adding that sickness was not limited to only few individuals but that “everybody is sick one way or the other”.
The Archbishop said healing was a collective responsibility and urged health workers to work as a team.
Mr John Afful, Director of the Archdiocesan Health Service, said the Church would soon inaugurate the seventh medical facility at the Archdiocese.
He said Mankessim Catholic Orthopedic Centre which would soon be inaugurated would be the fourth facility since 2000 in the Archdiocese.
Mr Afful said St Francis Xavier Hospital at Assin Foso was the first to be established in 1951 followed by Our Lady of Grace Hospital at Breman Asikuma in 1958 and St Luke Hospital at Apam in 1959.
He said Mercy Rehabilitation Centre at Brafuyaw near Cape Coast was established in 2000 to cater for substance dependence (drug abuse) followed by St Gregory Hospital at Buduburam which started as a clinic to cater for the Liberian Refugees and was upgrade3d to a hospital in 2002.
He said the Obstetric Fistula Hospital also at Mankessim which deals with complications from child birth was inaugurated in 2010.
Dr Ebenezer Amekah, Medical Superintendent of St Luke Hospital at Apam, said the theme for the celebration was taken from the love shown by the Good Samaritan to the Jew who was attacked by highway robbers.
He cautioned health workers to desist from discrimination against patients.
The Medical Superintendent said the World Day for the sick was instituted by Pope John Paul II after he was shot by an assailant in 1992 to show love and compassion on the sick.
He urged health workers to place the interest of patients above their personal considerations.
Dr Mark Nii Lamptey, Manager of Gomoaman Health Insurance Scheme, in a solidarity message, said the collaboration between National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and health facilities was very cordial as the NHIS finances health delivery while the health facilities provide the healing services.
He said the focus of NHIS had been shifted to preventive method than the curative of diseases.
Mrs Joyce Jetuah, National President of Midwives Association and proprietress of Godfrey Memorial Maternity Home at Gomoa Ankamu cautioned against combining orthodox medical treatment with herbal treatment.
She urged patients to followed strictly medical instructions in seeking recovery.
Sister Catholic health facilities in the Archdiocese attended the launch.
Source: GNA