Newmont Golden Ridge Limited (NGRL)-Akyem is to build an ultra-modern operating theatre estimated at GH¢ 400,000.00 for the New Abirem Government Hospital in the Birim North District in the Eastern Region.

When completed, the theatre will facilitate major surgeries without the hospital necessarily referring cases to other hospitals outside the district.

The project has been awarded on contract and the contractor would be on site soon to commence work.

Dr Adams Mahami, Medical Superintendent in-charge of the hospital, disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at New Abirem in an interview on Monday.

He said the major challenges facing the hospital were inadequate human resource, lack of logistics, equipment and staff accommodation.

Dr Mahami said he was the only medical officer being helped by two assistants at the 81-bed capacity hospital which treats an average of 3,865 patients every month.

He said the hospital also lacked an X-ray department, Eye and Dental clinics and Electro-Cardiograph, which would ensure the facility’s smooth operations.

He commended Newmont for constructing a doctors’ bungalow and some nurses’ quarters for the hospital, adding that, in spite of all that, lack of staff accommodation was a major constraint preventing many qualified staff from accepting posting to the facility.

Dr Mahami said the hospital also needs an auto biochemical analyzer, a water distillation apparatus, an autoclave for blood culture and one anesthetic machine.

He said the facility had only one vehicle and an ambulance adding that, the “cost of maintenance is high due to the bad nature of the road from New Abirem to Nkawkaw Holy Family Hospital, which is the nearest referral point”.

He commended Obrempong Akwasi Amo Kyeretwie, the Chief of Abirem, for assisting the hospital to improve security at the facility.

GNA