FREE MEDICAL SERVICE AT JASIKAN HOSPITAL (PAGE 36)

A free outreach medical programme to perform surgeries on various ailments has begun at the Jasikan District Hospital in the Volta Region.
Cases being treated include fibroid, hernia, urine retention, as well as general surgery.
It is being undertaken by the Christ Leads Medical Services, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), led by Dr Christian Amenuveve, a surgical specialist, and it is specifically being carried out for people who have registered under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
So far, 180 clients have benefitted from the programme.
Between July and December, 2007, 149 clients covered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) were treated under the programme at a cost of GH¢36,400. This year, an estimated GH¢60,000 is expected to be spent on the programme.
Patronage at the surgical sessions continue to be high, since there are no surgical services in the deprived areas.
The Jasikan NHIS, which commenced in January 2006 and inaugurated in February, the same year with a membership of 7,000.
As of now, the scheme can boost 51,095 card-bearing members who receive medical facilities at four major hospitals in the district, namely Jasikan, Worawora, Kpando and Hohoe.
Total attendance this year is 10,816 and GH¢29,893.82 has so far been paid to service providers.
The biggest challenge facing the scheme is getting access to people living beyond the Volta Lake, which is inaccessible.
In an interview, the Jasikan District Director of Health Services, Dr Samuel Abudey, said since the Jasikan Hospital was elevated to a district hospital, it still operated with facilities used by health centres.
He said the hospital had only 48 beds at the male and female wards, two water closet systems for the patients, nine beds in the maternity ward and no means of transport.
According to him, electricity was their major challenge, compelling the authorities to instal a generator which functioned at a high cost.
Dr Abudey noted with regret that even though the Jasikan hospital was a district hospital, it had no mortuary and laundry and the road to the facility was very deplorable, adding, “There is only one medical director who also doubles as the District Director of Health Services.”