Agri Local

St. Martin De Porres Hospital Chalks 70th Milestone

The Saint Martin de Porre’s Hospital at Agomanya has celebrated 70 years of delivering quality patient care and helping to ensure wellness in many generations of people. Members of the hospital’s leadership, staff, and key community partners joined them as they commemorated this legacy under the theme, ‘70 years of Providing Quality Healthcare; Challenges, Prospects and Way Forward.’

The celebration climaxed at the Roman Catholic School Park at Agomanya in the Lower Manya Krobo municipality of the Eastern region on Saturday with a grande durbar during which speakers highlighted the hospital’s rich history and contributions to the community throughout the years.

As a leading member of the Christian Health Association of Ghana, the St. Martin’s hospital reached an incredible milestone with 70 years of service. The hospital has a wonderful history worth celebrating and sharing with its staff, volunteers and members of the community.

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Addressing guests at the celebrations, hospital administrator, Mr. Osei Owusu Bempah stressed that the history of health care in the greater Krobo and Dangme lands cannot be complete without the mention of the St. Martin’s Hospital.

He was excited that a facility which began as a modest Maternity Home and a Clinic prior to Ghana attaining independence today exists as the biggest Hospital in the Lower Manya Municipality by way of the number of patients seen by any hospital in the greater Krobo land.

‘The numbers alone mean nothing if they do not translate into quality of care, and truly this is the domain that the Saint Martin’s hospital has made the most strides over the period of seven decades hence the theme for the celebration ‘70 years of Providing Quality Healthcare; Challenges, Prospects and Way Forward,’ Mr. Bempah underscored.

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Special Guest of Honour and Catholic Bishop of Koforidua, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum took to the occasion to express his gratitude to the Chiefs and Elders of the Manya Krobo Traditional Council for welcoming the Catholic Church and further assisting immensely with the acquisition of land for religious, educational and health purposes.

‘In the same vain, I wish to thank the Missionary sisters, servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) whose Sisters pioneered the commencement of the Clinic which has now grown to become one of the leading health facilities in the Krobo land,’ the bishop expressed.

He also expressed gratitude to workers; past and present for their dedicated services of caring for the sick and needy. ‘On an occasion like this it is important for all to reflect on the past, look at the present and focus into the future. We have the past to learn from and to guide us as we strive to still improve on our present and future health care delivery.

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On his part, Executive Director of the Christian Health Association of Ghana, CHAG, Mr. Peter K. Yeboah called on CHAG member institutions to explore innovative mechanisms to ensure financial sustainability of their services. He noted the hospital’s unique brand of quality and compassionate health services which he said must be maintained to attract and retain needy patients in line with its anniversary theme.

He eulogized the missionaries and pioneers of the St Martin’s de Porres hospital and their resolve to sacrifice and serve humanity with distinction despite the uncertainties and difficulties at the time.

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Konor of the Manya Krobo traditional Council, Nene Sackitey II also eulogized the humble background of the hospital with a founder who was a visionary missionary in the person of Bishop Joseph Oliver Bowers (SVD) together with the sisters of the HDR who he said brought other people from other countries to help establish St. Martin’s to deliver healthcare services to Kroboland since 1946.

‘His devotion to mankind is exemplary and must be commended. He did not only establish the hospital but schools also to train young girls. I want to be the first to announce to the whole world that the dream of Bishop Bowers has yielded fruits,’ the paramount chief exulted.

He also commended the hospital for getting thus far despite its background of being established in a humble community as it engaged in special projects such as epilepsy and maternal depression issues as well as their unflinching advocacy for people living with HIV/Aids.

Mr. George A. Adjei – Director of the National Catholic Health Service, NHIS, also noted that the approach to teaching the skills of continuous quality improvement to transform operational systems for better health outcomes through the flagship project, Project Fives Alive, has succeeded in reducing under five deaths by nearly 20% within NCHS hospitals and 33% between 2008 and 2015.

‘We are happy to mention that this hospital is part of that success story. In other words, the hospital has saved lives of under five children who would otherwise have died.’

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Long service awards were presented to deserving staff who have dedicated between 15 and 38 years of service to the hospital. Each of them received a citation as well as an undisclosed amount of money.

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Retirees from the hospital who served and retired in various capacities were also rewarded. For their commitment and service to work, they were each rewarded with a fridge each and an undisclosed amount of money.

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