Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe Constituency, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has cut sod for the construction of a new emergency block at the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Hospital, popularly known as Akawe Hospital, describing the project as a critical response to longstanding healthcare challenges in the area.
Addressing dignitaries, healthcare professionals, and residents at the ceremony, the MP said the project represents a deliberate effort to address the growing pressure on the facility, which serves as the primary point of emergency care for the constituency and surrounding communities.
“For many years, Akawe Hospital has been the first and often the only point of call for residents in states of medical emergency,” he said. “While the facility has done its best under challenging conditions, the current infrastructure has been overwhelmed by demand, making the situation both clinically untenable and morally unacceptable.”
Mr. Shaib emphasised that healthcare remains a central focus of his work, noting that improved health outcomes are essential for education, economic productivity, and social cohesion.
He highlighted his “Health Train” initiative, which has delivered medical outreach services across all 16 electoral areas in the constituency. According to him, the programme has provided health screenings, facilitated NHIS registrations, distributed blood pressure monitors, and supported critical medical interventions, including eye surgeries for more than 200 residents, as well as hernia and fibroid treatments.
The planned emergency block, he explained, is a purpose-built facility designed exclusively for emergency care. It will include a 25-bed male ward, a 25-bed female ward, a recovery ward, consulting rooms, a records unit, a pharmacy, a fully equipped laboratory, administrative facilities, staff rest areas, and an ambulance bay.
When completed, the facility is expected to significantly ease congestion at the hospital, improve triage and emergency response, and provide a more efficient and dignified environment for both patients and healthcare workers.
Mr. Shaib noted that the hospital serves not only Weija-Gbawe but also residents from surrounding communities such as Tetegu, Oblogo, and Kasoa, stressing that the project is an investment in the broader health needs of the area.
He expressed gratitude to stakeholders, community leaders, and the hospital’s staff for their continued support and dedication, despite the challenges they face.
The MP also used the occasion to draw attention to the completed Weija-Gbawe Children’s Hospital, initiated in 2024 under the leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo. He urged authorities to take the necessary steps to ensure its commissioning so that it can begin delivering healthcare services to the public.
“As we break this ground today, we inaugurate a new chapter in the healthcare story of this constituency,” he said. “We affirm our commitment to improving the quality of care available to our people, especially in their most vulnerable moments.”
The ceremony marks the beginning of what stakeholders hope will be a transformative addition to healthcare delivery in Weija-Gbawe and its surrounding communities.
