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Nana Akosua Pokuaa, the Ashanti Regional Deputy Queen Mother of the Beads Sellers Association, has made a passionate appeal to the Minister Designate for Health, Hon. Kwabena Minta Akandoh, to prioritize the construction of housing facilities for caregivers and relatives of patients in hospitals across the country.
Speaking to journalists in Kumasi, Nana Akosua Pokuaa expressed deep concern over the lack of proper accommodation for caregivers who accompany patients to healthcare facilities. According to her, the current situation, where many caregivers are forced to sleep on hospital floors, in corridors, and other inappropriate areas, is inhumane and requires urgent attention.
“It is heartbreaking to see relatives of patients sleeping on floors in hospitals because there is no proper accommodation for them. These caregivers are critical to the recovery process of their loved ones, and they deserve better treatment,” Nana Akosua Pokuaa lamented.
She noted that caregivers play a vital role in supporting the recovery of patients by attending to their non-medical needs, providing moral support, and ensuring they receive timely care. However, the absence of designated housing facilities for these individuals puts unnecessary strain on their well-being and compromises their ability to effectively care for their loved ones.
Nana Akosua Pokuaa also highlighted the challenges faced by healthcare workers, particularly nurses, and called on the incoming Health Minister to take immediate steps to address these issues. She stressed that healthcare workers often face overwhelming workloads, inadequate resources, and substandard working conditions, which negatively affect the quality of care they provide to patients.
“To ensure holistic healthcare delivery, it is imperative for the government to also address the concerns of healthcare workers, especially nurses. When they are well-resourced and motivated, the overall patient experience improves significantly,” she added.
The deputy queen mother urged the government to demonstrate its commitment to improving healthcare delivery by investing in infrastructure that caters to the needs of both patients and their caregivers. She emphasized that building caregiver housing facilities would not only enhance the hospital experience but also reflect the country’s commitment to the well-being of all Ghanaians.
Her call comes at a time when healthcare facilities in the country are grappling with a variety of challenges, including overcrowding and limited resources. Nana Akosua Pokuaa’s plea has been lauded by several stakeholders as a step in the right direction, and many are hopeful that the government will take swift action to address the issues raised.
As Hon. Kwabena Minta Akandoh prepares to assume office as the Minister of Health, expectations remain high that he will prioritize initiatives to improve the state of healthcare in Ghana, with special attention to addressing the concerns of caregivers and healthcare workers.
