By Mabel Esinam Awagah
President of the Renal Patients Association, Baffour Kojo Ahenkora, says the reopening of the Renal Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has come as a huge relief to renal patients, most of whom were suffering as a result of the three-week closure of the Department.
Speaking to GBCNEWS, Mr. Kojo Ahenkorah hoped the department will not be closed anytime in the future since the move has dire consequences for the patients. He added that accessing the service at private facilities comes with huge expenses, which most patients can’t afford. He said they are afraid the unit’s operation will not continue after some weeks.
“Accessing private facilities comes with a lot of challenges, and most of us cannot afford them. We don’t understand the situation where they are saying they are anticipating to clear the goods by Friday. What is preventing them from clearing it? The consumables we are using now, the CEO made us understand that the air lifted. How many of them, per my chest, the consumables that are in now cannot even last for two weeks. Is it because we are threatening them that we are going to picket? That is why they want to do something to cushion us down.
We don’t understand, I’m very much aware there is a container containing the consumables at the Port so why don’t we do everything that is necessary to get the consumable to Korle Bu to avoid these breaks. So, if within the shortest possible time we are not able to bring those consumables by Friday, I’m sure the following week, we cannot do the dialysis.
We don’t want to come and hear English again on Friday, that we are sorry the consumables are no more, so we should go back home,” he emphasised.
The patients are demanding better healthcare policies, increased funding for renal services, and more resources to ensure that everyone can access the treatment.
“We will be happy if the government settles these issues with National Health Insurance. Majority of us don’t do any work. We are just living in our various homes, and we come for dialysis when our time comes. So, we are pleading with the government to hear our cries,” they said.
The hospital’s management, in a statement issued on August 20, announced that all consumables stuck at the Tema port will be cleared by the end of this week, which will allow the unit to resume full operations. Renal patients threatened to picket at the Renal Unit in protest over the shortage, which had deprived them of medical care.
However, with the prompt delivery of the consumables, the hospital commenced dialysis service, forcing the patients to hold back the picketing. President of the Renal Patients Association, Baffour Kojo Ahenkora, said they are afraid the unit’s operation will not continue after Friday.
