The Lindsay Foundation, a non-profit organisation, yesterday inaugurated and presented an over GH¢4 million worth ultra-modern emergency block to the Achimota Hospital in Accra.
Named after the Director of the Foundation, Dr James Orleans-Lindsay, the block which was completed within eight months was fully furnished with air conditioners, a pharmacy, washrooms and separate wards for male, female and children.
In addition are auxiliary equipment including 1,400 surgical gowns, 20 beds, 13 oxygen concentrators, nine UV trolleys, 25 boxes of protective overalls, syringes and fridge chest, among others.
Dr Orleans-Lindsay said the construction of the ward was in honour of his late father John KwakuEwusi Orleans-Lindsay who before his demise could not receive good medical care due to bad healthcare systems.
He said the idea to construct the block was conceived last year when the foundation renovated and handed over the maternity ward to the hospital.
Dr Orleans-Lindsay noted that the country’s challenge of inadequate health infrastructure coupled with the socio economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic called for a sustained collaboration between the government and the private sector to provide health infrastructure for all.
He said it was for that reason the foundation was contributing its quota to complement the national agenda of providing quality health care for Ghanaians.
Dr Orleans-Lindsay also revealed that the foundation would in the coming year construct a similar project in honour of his mother.
Mr Stephen Pambiin Jalulah, Deputy Minister, Roads and Highways speaking on behalf of the sector minister, KwasiAmoako-Atta commended the foundation for the initiative and urged it to extend its kind gesture to other parts of the country.
“We all know that the hand of the government is not long enough to cover every part when it comes to development. So it is truly works of people like this that we are able to provide certain amenities and facilities to augment what the government provides. So congrats to Lindsay for a good job,” he added.
Mr Jalulah pledged that the government would continue the construction of roads it began in the area to improve their daily activities.
The Former Medical Superintendent of Achimota Hospital, Dr David KwabenaOkoh expressed the hospital’s gratitude to the foundation.
He emphasised that the new block would augment the hospital’s eight-bed capacity emergency block and increase the number of cases it handled previously, give patients (male and female) and children as well as health professionals some privacy.
BY ABIGAIL ARTHUR AND ELIZABETH OFFEI