The Holy Family Hospital in the Berekum Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region on 18th December, 2018 celebrated its 70th anniversary. Many people describe the Hospital as a home of healing and compassion, a facility which serve the sick with Christ-Centered passion and humility has been successful in its delivery for the past 70 years.
The Omanhene of Berekum Traditionl Area, Dasebre Dr. Amankona Diawuo II together with the Omanhemaa of Berekum Nana Akosua Ameyaahene III, and all the sub-chiefs of Berekum Traditionl Council were present to grace the occasion. The Omanhene of Berekum in his speech as the Chairman of the occasion, thanked the management of the hospital for the hard work done to bring the hospital this far.
Dasebre Dr. Amankona Diawuo II, who worked at the hospital in time past urged the management and staff to keep on with the good quality of health care delivery in the Municipality. Speaking on the theme for the occasion, "Excellent Health Care, 70 Years and Beyond", he said, quality healthcare is a shared responsibility and called on the government and individuals to support the hospital. He said now that the hospital has achieved secondary status, it has to be supported in many ways in terms of equipment to deliver their best.
He said Nananom has considered to name the hospital road after the 3 Mission Sisters who came from American to start the hospital. The road is now called 3 Mission Sisters Road and suggested that the hospital authorities should consider naming one of it's streets after Dr Palletier.
He also thanked Dr. Palletier who was at the occasion for her hard work and contribution towards the hospital.
The Administrator of the hospital, Rev. Sister Reena Vadakkeparambil John, said Holy Family Hospital is celebrating a milestone in the history of the hospital. She said for 70 years, the hospital has committed to high quality health care to the people of Berekum and beyond. Rev. Sister Reena V. John, said, the occasion is a celebration of the fruits of collaborative efforts and services of a number of dedicated people who through diverse ways, contributed in making Holy Family Hospital outstanding in health service delivery and training in the country.
She added that, Holy Family Hospital is one of the best hospitals in the country as a Christian Health Facility. The hospital has 162 inpatient beds and another 100 bed capacity maternity unit is under construction of which the first phase was commissioned on the celebration day.
The hospital in terms of service delivery has an average annual Out-patient-Department (OPD) attendance of 100,000 and 2,700 deliveries. She said, the hospital offer specialty services in general surgery, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatric, Dental, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Orthopedic and Urology.
Holy Family Hospital has been accredited the secondary health facility by the Health Facility Regulatory Authority (HeFRA) in the country. The Secondary level facility is equal to regional hospital status making it one of the first Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) facilities to be lifted to this status.
Holy Family Hospital has achieved a lot of successes and is the first Hospital in Ghana to fully operate Electronic-Folder System for both OPD and In-patients services. Apart from the high quality of health care services, the hospital provide house officer's and residents' training for both native and expatriate medical students. A number of nursing, midwifery and allied health training Institutions have been affiliated to the hospital for practical training and examinations.
The Administrator Rev. Sister Reena V John continued to suffixes on the challenges the hospital is still going through for the past 70 years. She pointed out that, the facility is faced with lack of funding because it solely relies on the reimbursement by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) which is always in arrears for several months. This has resulted in a situation where the hospital is always in debt to it's supplies thus refusal to supply medicines and consumables to them somtimes.
The hospital infrastructure is insufficient and the support only come from the church which is not enough, she emphasied.
Rev. Sister Reena promised that, the hospital will work hard to attain the next level of the first Tertiary Mission Hospital for the people of Berekum.
She called on the government, corporate agencies, stakeholders and individuals to help the hospital with infrastructure, incubators, photo therapy machine, delivery beds and other medical equipment.
She concluded her speech by thanking the facility development partners including, Stitching Berekum, Association of Health Professionals from the Netherlands, the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, CHAG, NCHS, Regional Health Directorate, Berekumman Citizens Association, Political Leaders MCE and MP of Berekum East and VRA/NEDCo for their support.
The deginitries led by the Omanhene of Berekum, Dasebre Dr. Amankona Diawuo II, Nana Akosua Ameyaahene III, the Omanhemaa, the Minister of Health Dr. Kwaku Agyemang Manu, Catholic Bishop of Sunyani Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, MP for Berekum East, Dr. Kwabena Twum Nuamah, MCE of Berekum, Hon. Kofi Adjei, and the hospital management led by Rev. Sister Reena V. John Commissioned the Ultra-modern 100 bed capacity maternity block.
