The three surgical clinics at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital which were closed on February 8, 2016, resumed operations on Monday.
Management of Korle Bu had explained at the time that the suspension of work at the three clinics was to allow for retooling.
The clinics are the urology surgical clinic, general surgery clinic and the neurosurgical clinic.
During a visit to the surgical block yesterday, the Daily Graphic observed that patients had thronged the clinics for review and to report new cases.
More than 200 patients were waiting to be attended to by the doctors during the visit. Some of the patients had already been attended to. Ms stella Amamoo said she had reported for review.
Patients speak
Most of the patients the Daily Graphic spoke to expressed optimism that the number of patients attending the clinics would decrease in the coming days.
Mr Samuel Ntim, who had also reported for review, expressed joy over the reopening of the three surgical clinics and said “this makes me more secure and relieved because I reported for review on February 15, 2016 and I was hit with the news of the closure,” he said.
Mr Ntim said he was devastated by the news because he was very sure that if he had had to seek care at any other health facility, particularly at a private one, he would not have been able to afford it.
“Now that the clinics have been reopened, I know in the event of any emergency there are doctors at the clinic and the facility is available for us to seek the needed health care,” he said.
Mr Charles Addo, another patient, said like many of the patients, he reported for review on February 15, 2016, and was asked to go home and report on March 21, 2016, due to ongoing works on the three surgical clinics.
Mr Atoquaye Tetteh, who had also reported for review on the due date, said he did not know the clinics had been closed in the interim.
Other patients, including Ms Martha Asante, Mr Elvis Sekyi and Mrs Thelma Koney, thanked the government for refurbishing the clinics.
They said though the closure caused them a lot of inconveniences, they were hopeful that the project would enhance healthcare delivery at the clinics.
Management is grateful
The Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mr Mustapha Salifu, on behalf of the management of the hospital, expressed gratitude to the general public, the Ministry of Health, sister hospitals in the metropolis, staff of the hospital and patients, for their co-operation and support during the period.
“Management wants to assure the public that it will continue to facilitate any project that will enhance healthcare delivery at the hospital,” Mr Salifu said.
During the one-month equipment replacement period, emergency cases were referred to the surgical emergency unit for the needed attention.
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