Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, the Central Regional Minister, has lauded the leadership of the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital and health workers for their continuous commitment to improving the quality of life of the people.

She made the commendation in an address she delivered at a durbar to commemorate 10 years of excellent services of Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba in the Effutu Municipality.

The durbar, which was on the theme: “Celebrating 10 years of setting the pace; health care excellence through innovations,” was to take stock of the past achievements and shortcomings in their quest to provide quality care for all.

Trauma and Specialist Hospital, Winneba, is a specialist secondary referral health facility that started operations in July 2012 and was subsequently designated as a specialists Hospital in 2015.

It currently runs services, including, Trauma and orthopaedics, paediatrics, ophthalmology and optical, anaesthesia, maxillofacial surgery, psychological, counselling diagnostic and physiotherapy.

Mrs Assan stated that, aside from the provision of quality health service delivery, the hospital assisted tremendously in the creation of clinical manpower and training of health professionals not only for the facility but also for other health facilities in the country, owing to its proximity to the Nursing Training School in Winneba.

“A healthy nation has the potential to develop and prosper and with regard, I believe you will agree with me that issues relating to health are paramount to the very survival of our people and must be given proper attention,” she indicated.

The Regional Minister noted that 10 years in the life of an Institution of that pedigree was no mean achievement, adding that, since its inception, it has chalked many successes in the provision of excellent health care to all.

“I, indeed, admit with admiration your resolve to partner with the Government in pursuit of its developmental agenda and, in this respect, I say Ayekoo to all of you,” she stated.

She, however, expressed concern about the perception of the unfriendly attitude of some health workers towards their clients and drew their attention to the fact that they were among the privileged few professionals who had been entrusted with the noble, yet daunting, the task of nurturing and improving human lives right from conception to death and their action and inactions could have dire consequences.

Mrs Assan urged health workers to be humane, patient, tolerant, sympathetic, polite and empathetic towards patients.

“You should endeavour to exhibit a high sense of responsibility and sacrifice with the view of exemplifying the rich values which this noble profession professes,” and called on the management and staff of the Hospital to improve operations of the facility through innovation.

Dr George Kwame Prah, the Medical Director of Trauma and Specialist Hospital, Winneba, in his address, said aside from the achievements made during the period, they had challenges, which include, inadequate staff accommodation, skilled manpower and critical staff as well as cash flow difficulty due to delay in reimbursement by the National Health Insurance Authority.

He, therefore, appealed to stakeholders in the area, corporate bodies and well-wishers to support the hospital to address the challenges to enable it to render quality health care services.

Alhaji Zubairu Kassim, the Effutu Municipal Chief Executive, who chaired the occasion, commended the management and the entire staff of the hospital for the yeoman’s work and urged them to work harder to sustain and improve their performances.

He asked the nurses, in particular, to work by the code of conduct of the profession towards the betterment of persons who seek health care to help erase the negative perception by the public about the facility.

At the end of the event, hardworking staff and departments of the facility were awarded.