Bolgatanga:Dr. Joseph Kojo Tambil, the Director of the Upper East Regional Hospital, has made an appeal for the creation of an oncology unit and additional specialized diagnostic facilities to enhance cancer care and reduce the need for patient referrals to other health institutions.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Tambil emphasized the hospital's need for an oncology unit, a histopathology laboratory, and biosafety equipment to improve its ability to diagnose and treat cancer patients. During a stakeholder engagement organized by the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF), also known as MahamaCare, he highlighted that over 30 potential or confirmed cancer cases had been identified, with some being referred elsewhere due to the lack of specialist services.
Dr. Tambil called on the GMTF to assist in establishing the necessary facilities, stressing the requirement for a biosafety cabinet to protect healthcare workers from exposure to hazardous drugs while administering chemotherapy. He praised President John Dramani Mahama for implementing the GMTF, noting its timeliness in addressing the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases in Ghana.
He further explained the country's transition in disease burden, where infectious diseases coexist with non-communicable conditions like cancer. Dr. Tambil underscored the economic impact of cancer on families and the crucial support the Fund could offer patients and their families.
The hospital has already benefited from the Fund's donations, receiving a truckload of medicines and an arterial blood gas analyzer to aid in monitoring critically ill patients. Dr. Tambil revealed expectations for additional equipment, including an MRI machine, chemistry analyzers, and ventilators, to enhance diagnostic and critical care services.
Beyond support from the GMTF, Dr. Tambil advocated for the conversion of the Regional Hospital into a teaching hospital to better access resources and specialist services. He argued that the focus should be on when, rather than where, a teaching hospital should be established in Bolgatanga, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.
Additionally, he proposed the establishment of a university hospital to support research activities at the Navrongo Health Research Centre and the university. Dr. Tambil highlighted the development of teaching hospitals in other regions and questioned why Bolgatanga should be excluded, urging local leaders and stakeholders to back efforts to improve healthcare delivery in the region.
He expressed confidence that the establishment of specialized facilities and the hospital's upgrade would enable it to provide more comprehensive services and improve health outcomes across the region.