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Fistula Hospital

The Fistula Hospital (BTC) Update Report September

It was very exciting to visit the site of the fistula hospital on my recent visit to Ghana. Great progress has been made and everyone involved is looking forward to the operational phase of the project.

The Fistula Hospital is part of a women’s health centre complex, the Mercy Women’s Reproductive Health Centre (MWRHC). The building is on a hill and is light and airy with clear views over the countryside. The MWRHC complex includes a maternity unit for poor women. The maternity unit is completed and has been landscaped. It is being equipped and made ready for the Dedication Ceremony for the MWRHC when the fistula hospital is ready. The complex includes kitchen and laundry facilities, a laboratory and pharmacy, which will be shared among the units.

As of early September, the Fistula Hospital is 90% complete. The last building, the hostel for women waiting for treatment, is under construction. The main building only needs the plumbing fixtures, operating theatre lights, etc. installed. Landscaping will complete the process. The building is of excellent quality and is a building of which Mr. Wilberforce, the builder, MCI and the Archdiocese of Cape Coast can be proud. Staff accommodations (a 16-apartment complex for nurses and two doctors residences) remain to be built. Provision of accommodation is important for physician and nurse recruitment. At present the Cardinal is negotiating for the land on which he would like to build them. Mr. Wilberforce has estimated the cost of these to be about $380,000 USD. A third unit for the MWRHC, a unit for abused and abandoned women is at the planning stage. The Cardinal and local Board of Trustees have drawn up a site plan and are negotiating to have about 100 acres of land in total (presently, they have 51 acres).

Nursing and staff recruitment is underway. There are three surgeons from Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra and one from the University Hospital in Kumasi who can travel to Mankessim to provide the surgical treatment for the women.

I would like to thank Cardinal Turkson, Dr. John Wilson and the Board of Trustees for their assistance to me during my visit.