Central University cuts sod for construction of 38-bed teaching hospital

The Central University has begun the construction of a 38-bed clinic at the school’s Miotso Campus near Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, estimated to cost $5 million.

The clinic is the first phase of a plan by the university to establish a fully-fledged teaching hospital and also to provide the much needed on-campus facility for the practical (clinical) training of students in nursing, midwifery, physician assistantship, pharmacy, and medicine.

It will also provide critical healthcare services to travelers who ply the Tema-Aflao highway and residents of the Ningo-Prampram District.

The clinic was designed by a team led by the Dean of the School of Architecture and Design (SADe) at the university, Mr. J. G. K. Abankwa and is expected to be completed in 23 months.

Training

The Chancellor of the university, Pastor Mensa Otabil, cut the sod for construction to begin last Monday.

He said the project was part of the university’s agenda to equip its students with the needed skills required in their training as well as meet the healthcare needs of the people in the Ningo-Prampram District who had to travel over a long distance to Tema, for instance, to seek medical care.

He said the university had considered various designs and sizes for the university hospital since its function to teach medicine and allied health programmes as well as provide for the critical health needs of both the university community and its external publics was of great importance.

Pastor Otabil, who is also the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), announced that the church would provide funding for the clinic and the subsequent Central University Teaching Hospital.

Long term vision

The Vice-Chancellor of the Central University, Professor Bill Buenar-Puplampu, commended the University Council and the leadership of the ICGC for agreeing to undertake what, he termed, very strategic investment in the country’s health sector.

He acknowledged the hard work and efforts of many who contributed to the design and preparation of the project.