Church Completes Construction and Renovation Project at Takoradi Ghana Hospital

On 20 June 2023, in a ceremony at the Takoradi Hospital, Takoradi Ghana, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints formally handed over the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Takoradi Hospital to management of the hospital after refurbishment of the facility.  At the same ceremony, the Church also handed over an eight-seat modern toilet and urinal facility to the Hospital.  In addition to refurbishment, the Church donated a significant amount of medical equipment as well as mattresses and beds. Representing the Church at the ceremony was Elder Anthony M. Kaku, an Area Seventy. He was joined by President Justice Odro-Mensah of the Ghana Takoradi Stake.

The renovation works and construction of the toilet and urinal facility began in December 2022 and took six months to complete. The scope of the refurbishment included increasing the height of the Accident and Emergency Unit building to eliminate the “hot oven” condition previously experienced due to the low roof.  New roofing was provided to replace the old one, described by hospital staff as a ‘rainwater bath for patients and staff’.  Old, cracked walls were replaced with newly constructed ones; interior and exterior walls were repainted, mosquito-proof netting was installed, floors were re-tiled, and air-conditioners and ceiling fans were installed.

The newly constructed eight-seater modern toilet and urinal facility is intended to replace the old two-seater toilet that could hardly serve the needs of the over two hundred patients who visit the unit daily. The Church also provided landscaping around the facility including new grass and flowering plants.  

The Church also donated to the Accident and Emergency Unit, five new large touch-screen patient monitors with the capability of ECG and blood pressure monitoring, temperature checks, respiratory and oxygen saturation monitorings. These screens will facilitate adequate patient monitoring for early warning signs that will ensure life-saving interventions. There were also four digital and four manual sphygmomanometers for taking blood pressure measurements, as well as four hand-held pulse oximeters for checking oxygen levels in the blood. The medical equipment included ten new three-crank beds with mattresses, a drip stand, and durable side rails.

In addition, the Ophthalmology Unit of the hospital received an ophthalmoscope for eye examination; an ophthalmic microscope to aid in eye surgeries; and a tonometer for the measurement of eye pressure. They also received a set of instruments for cataract surgery; a glaucoma set and several other eye surgical instruments. 100 new orthopedic-grade mattresses were donated to other wards at the hospital.

Elder Kaku unveiled the plaques in Takoradi that memorialized the donation. “The funding for humanitarian service projects is made possible by donations of faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the world,” he said. “We recognized the need at the hospitals and responded to your call for help.  It is what we do for our fellow Ghanaians.” Elder Kaku also expressed his appreciation for the incredible service done by doctors, nurses, and other health workers at the hospital and said that he hoped that the donations would make their jobs just a little easier. “You discharge your duties selflessly, and Almighty God will bless you for that.”

Dr. George Peprah, Medical Superintendent of the Takoradi Hospital, expressed his gratitude to the Church for the donations and services rendered. He noted that, “ while efforts have been made in the past to improve the conditions at the hospital, this is the first major facelift for the hospital since it’s inception over 94 years ago.”  He also said that the renovation of the Accident and Emergency Unit,”is a boost to health delivery since most sick people delay visiting the hospital until after their condition reaches a critical point.”  

At a separate ceremony, the Church donated much needed medical equipment to the Essikado Government Hospital near Sekondi, also in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. Nana Kobina Nketsiah V, the Omanhen of the Essikado Traditional Area, was represented by Nana Obaahemaa Ekua Kodu II, Paramount Queenmother of the Essikado Traditional Area.  Elder Koku and President Odro-Mensah of the Ghana Takoradi Stake also represented the Church at that ceremony.