GENERAL NEWS

Audio: Taxi Drivers Express Anger Over Atua Hospital Road

Drivers plying the Atua government hospital road, particularly taxi drivers, have threatened to arbitrarily increase their charges in conveying the sick to the facility. This follows bitter complaints expressed by users of the road concerning the deplorable nature of the road that leads to arguably the biggest hospital in the Lower Manya Krobo municipal.

The drivers are thus calling on hospital authorities and the government to quickly respond to the deteriorated road, contending that the rickety nature of the road is hindering the effective access to healthcare which has led many others to serious situations.

Rite news noted that the link road leading to the hospital has developed deep potholes with rough shapes making it difficult for residents to access healthcare during emergency situations.

Drivers and residents emphasized particularly on the major road leading to the only health facility thus, the Atua government hospital which serves the area and nearby communities. This was revealed in an interview when Rite news caught up with some residents and drivers who ply the route.

‘The road is very bad and transporting the sick to the hospital is very disheartening and if nothing is done about the situation, we would have no option but to increase our charges arbitrarily,’ Solomon, a driver who plies the road lamented bitterly as he expressed his exasperation at the development.

‘This road is less than a two-minute drive but drivers are forced to endure about ten minutes in conveying sick people including pregnant women to the Atua government hospital, thanks to the bad nature of this road. You’re even forced to exercise restraint when conveying an emergency case of a woman in labour because the women could suffer forced labour if you sped on these bumps,’ Solomon added.

As some of the drivers put it, they’re even forced to covey emergency accident cases to the hospital at a snail’s pace due to the same reason.

The drivers further contend that the situation has persisted over the past years despite consistent complaints to hospital authorities to sit up and fix the challenge.

Another driver, Daniel Teye Larbi who has been in the driving business since 1974 tells this reporter that the narrow nature of the road makes it difficult for two vehicles to give way. He expressed his frustration at the lackadaisical attitude of the hospital authorities and the district assembly towards addressing the monster of a serious challenge.

‘If this challenge is not resolved, we would have no option than to refuse bringing patients to the hospital in future,’ he threatened.

The road which has serious galleys running through it has made commuting to and from the hospital challenging and discomfiting.

Meanwhile, Principal Administrator at the Atua Government Hospital, Mr. Frimpong Ghartey equally admitted to the poor state of the road and bemoaned its deplorable nature, describing it as a death-trap. Mr. Ghartey also feared that the situation could compound if nothing was done about it. In some situations, emergency cases got worse before reaching the hospital.

‘The condition of the road leading to the Atua Government Hospital needs urgent attention since it’s unmotorable and the situation has become very alarming because patients risk losing their lives before reaching the hospital. Drivers who apply that road also need to take their time while plying the road due to its regrettable nature,’ Mr. Frimpong noted.

He also blamed the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly and the District Health Directorate who have refused to act on this concern despite several letters written to their outfit to this effect. ‘Nothing has been done about the situation and just last week, I spoke with the District Coordinating Director about the situation and he has promised to as a matter of urgency, do something about it since they now have a new Municipal Chief Executive on board now,’ he added.

He has therefore pleaded with all the stakeholders to come on board to rescue the situation to save lives.

Source: ritefmonline.org

 

 

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