St Joseph Hospital exonerated

The St. Joseph Orthopaedic Hospital, Effiduase, Koforidua.

The St. Joseph Hospital at Effiduase in the Koforidua Dioceses has been cleared of allegations that staff of the facility extorted monies from patients under the Operation Walk Syracuse.

In a release by the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) on the findings, it described the allegations by the media, as unfounded and malicious to the integrity, image and reputation of the St Joseph Hospital.

The findings further asserted that no payment or donation of US$ 100,000 was ever made to the St Joseph Hospital towards the surgical operations.

Background

Following media allegations of extortion of monies from patient under the American Charity-Operation Walk Syracuse, by staff of the St. Joseph Orthopaedic Hospital at Koforidua in August 2016, then Minster of Health, Hon. Alex Segbefia, directed the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) to conduct full scale investigation.

Consequently, the Chairman of the CHAG Board set up a seven-member Committee which was inaugurated on 24^th August 2016, with Mr. Christopher Nartey, a retired Director of Administration at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital as its Chairman to look into the matter.

The release signed by Mr. Peter K. Yeboah, Executive Director of CHAG, further stated that beneficiary patients received free echocardiogram, x-rays and other laboratory tests, all at the expense of the hospital.

The findings noted that patients paid GH₵1000 each for the procedures, which comparatively cost about GH₵ 55,000 in most hospitals in Ghana.

CHAG also to announced that the Patients who benefitted from the operation are now healthy, happy, and enjoying functional mobility as independent persons.

The release announced that the American Charity-Operation Walk Syracuse is returning to the same Hospital-St Joseph Hospital-Effiduase-Koforidua in October this year, for another batch of humanitarian and restorative surgeries to the poor and needy.

CHAG called on the general public to support CHAG Member Institutions in preserving, promoting and protecting health and healing at all times, anywhere and to every person.

The Association further appealed to stakeholders to appreciate efforts of CHAG Health Facilities, including St Joseph Hospital-Koforidua, that collaborate with Stakeholders to provide such charitable works of mercy for humanity not condemnation.

The Association assured the general public that the Hospitals still upholds Christian ideals of service and sacrifice and maintains their fidelity to the sick and suffering, poor and needy, neglected and marginalized segment of the society.

Meanwhile, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua, in a separate interview alongside the World Day of the Sick at the Hospital said the allegation were unfounded and malicious.

He cautioned Journalists to be circumspect in their reportage and do well to investigate the matter to its conclusive end.

Similarly, Mr. Valentine Bruku, Administrator of the Hospital assured patients and clients of the facility that the management and staff of St. Joseph Hospital were committed to delivering quality healthcare to the.

He therefore appealed to all staff and patrons to support the growth of the facility.