Health care delivery in the Gushegu district of the northern region faces imminent danger if stakeholders in the health sector, such as ministry of health, Ghana health service and the government do not step in immediately.
This is because, workers in the Gushegu district hospital are sharply divided with bitterness with both junior and senior staff living with suspicious minds.
Our investigation has also revealed that the division has gone hurl into the Gushegu Township with some influential people already taking entrenched positions of which some concerned residents say are detrimental and dangerous to the health care delivery in Gushegu.
The bickering and rancor in the Gushegu district hospital is intensifying on daily basis with some health personnel considering living the place and its dire consequences on the rural people especially, women and children are clear.
The hospital has two medical assistants who consult up to 50 patients a day, but indications are that the administrative wrangling in the Gushegu district hospital our checks revealed, is affecting the psychic of these two medical assistants and if pragmatic measures are not put in place, it could affect their service delivery.
It has an acting medical superintendent whose leadership style the workers have described as vindictive and selective in nature.
Pharmacist, accountants, the nurse manager and some junior staff are among the most aggrieved workers in the hospital and are calling for intervention to salvage the hospital.
Zaa News has its possession a 9-page petition issued on 28th Mrch2014 and signed by one hundred and thirty three (133) workers in the Gushegu hospital which touches on leadership; team work, technical & professional competence, procurement, motivation and kitchen services.
The entire staff of the Gushegu district hospital according to the petition suspended the sit-down and partial strike which started on 27th March 2014 over the issue.
The aggrieved health workers however gave April 11, 2014 as a deadline for the removal of the Dr Shahadu Sayibu Shambla from his post as acting medical superintendent. Our sources indicate that there is a looming indefinite strike by the health workers in the Gushegu district hospital if their demand is not met. Meanwhile, the acting superintendent of hospital, Dr Shahadu Sayibu Shambla has denied the allegations level against him and described as a propaganda masterminded by some workers to tarnish his reputation.
Dr Shahadu said he was trying instilled discipline among health professionals which is lacking in the hospital. Dr Shahadu Shambla also provided counted petition dated 30th March stated that’’ this is not a rejoinder to the earlier petition but it is an attempt to set the records straight with regard to certain issues pertaining petition dated 28th March, 2014to given to your office from the staff welfare committee of this hospital’’. Documents attach to the petition also included minutes of welfare committee and unit heads held on 4th March and re-assignment of health services administrators.
When asked whether he (medical superintendent) reported internal wrangling to the district director and regional directorate of the Ghana health services, Dr Shahadu, answer affirmative.
To ascertain the truth or other wise of Dr Shahadu’s claim, Zaa News contacted northern regional director of Ghana Health Service (GHS) Dr Akwasi Twumasi who confirmed the problem but described it as sensitive issue.
The problem started in March 2014, and reported to health directorate northern and director general of Ghana health service but investigations are yet been carry on. A letter dated April 2014 and signed by the Director General of Ghana health service, Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira requested an urgent investigation by the regional director GHS of the issues raised by the petitioners and submit a report to his office for further necessary action.
Zaa News effort to get some answers as to whether investigations has been conducted as directed by the director general from the Dr Twumasi has met with series of meetings according to his secretary who he (Dr. Twumasi told this reporter schedule meetings).
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