Physicians at the Tumu Hospital have expressed worry about rising accident cases with high numbers of fatal injuries recorded at the health facility over the years.
They therefore called for concerted action to stem the tide.
In 2018, almost every week, one to two cases of injuries resulting from motor accidents were reported in the Municipal Hospital, placing it among the top 10 Out-Patient-Department cases recorded, according to health workers.
“113 cases were recorded in 2018 at a frequency of 1.3 percent, a situation,” Dr Charles Wood, a Medical Doctor at the Hospital said during the 2018 Ghana Health Service Annual Performance Review, adding: “This is alarming”.
He told the Ghana News Agency that the Hospital was able to handle some of the cases, but referred the critical ones to the Upper West Regional Hospital in Wa, the Nandom Hospital and the Tamale Teaching Hospital, depending on the degree of injuries.
This is because the hospital in Tumu is not at the status to manage critical trauma cases, particularly when the hospital lacks Orthopaedic surgeons, Neurosurgeons, and general surgeons.
The Tumu Hospital has two Medical Doctors, who manage the facility serving a population of over 64,000, raising public concerns over shortage of doctors.
Dr Wood said the Hospital would need, at least, three or four additional doctors and three Physician Assistants to minimise the huge burden of growing Doctor-Patient-Ratio.
The Sissala East Municipal Director of Ghana Health Service, Mr Alex Bapula, encouraged parents and communities to report tumours on time for quicker medical attention.
“When this is done, it will bring life-saving opportunities for affected persons since there now exist an improved health system,” he said.

By: GNA