A former Deputy Defence Minister, Major(rtd) Derrick Oduro, has urged the Government to look for money for the Renal Dialysis Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to settle debts and provide maintenance for the machines used for dialysis.
This follows the Hospital’s failure to open the unit to the public despite a directive from the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu to open the unit.
In May 2023, the Unit was closed to outpatients, forcing them to seek dialysis service at private facilities.
According to sources, the unit had closed to outpatients due to accumulated debt and lack of maintenance of its machines for the dialysis.
In September 2023, the unit was partially opened to outpatients but the services were offered at an increased fee from GH¢380 to GH¢765.42.
This also caused a public uproar, forcing the unit to close again to outpatients after it was sent to parliament.
After a public outcry, the Minister of Health directed that the unit be opened on Monday, November 6,2023.
But as at the time of filing the report, the unit was still closed.
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Speaking on Atinka TV’s morning show, Ghana Nie with Ama Gyenfa Ofosu Darkwah, Major(rtd) Derrick Oduro who noted how deadly and frustrating kidney disease is, called on Government to support the unit to settle its debt and do maintenance of machines so that people can start having the services.
He warned that many kidney patients could lose their lives if the problem is not addressed .
He was also of the belief that philanthropists, non-governmental organisations (NGO) can contribute to support the unit.
While he called on the Government to support the unit, he was of the view that the equipment used properly undergo maintenance, noting that aside from the debt, if the equipment is not properly maintained, it could stop at some point even when a patient was on it.
“Government must look for the money to clear debt and provide the maintenance fee for the machines used for the dialysis. Government must do something about this,”he said.
He continued,”The problem must be solved, it is not just about opening it. You can force a horse to a river, but you cannot force it to drink the water. What we have to look at is the maintenance of the machines and why the place was closed because it is human life we are dealing with.”
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
 Derrick Oduro, has urged the Government to look for money for the Renal Dialysis Unit of the Korle-Bu){kind=link}