In a significant boost to rural healthcare delivery, Kosmos Energy in collaboration with Medical Bridges, a United States-based nonprofit organization, has donated essential medical equipment and supplies to the Asuonwunu Health Center in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region.
The donation, valued at several hundreds of Ghana cedis, was officially handed over on Saturday, July 20, 2024, through the facilitation of the Ghana Catholic Health Services. This philanthropic act follows a direct appeal from the Chief of Asuonwunu, Nana Achina Kwagyan V, who had called on development partners to come to the aid of the local health facility.
The donated items include hospital beds for the maternity unit, ultrasound probe cover machines, ECG/EKG pads, EKG probe microscope scissors, dissecting and splint forearm-wrist forceps, dressing cuffs, adult blood pressure monitors, and an assortment of essential medical consumables. These materials are expected to significantly strengthen the center’s capacity to provide quality health services, especially maternal and emergency care.
Speaking at the brief but significant ceremony, Nana Achina Kwagyan V described the donation as “lifesaving” and expressed immense gratitude to Kosmos Energy and Medical Bridges for responding to the needs of his community.
“This is a great day for Asuonwunu. This support will save lives and improve how healthcare is delivered in our area. On behalf of the entire community, I say thank you. We also pledge to ensure these items are properly used and maintained to benefit generations,” the chief stated.
The District Health Director, Pharm. Bernard Badu Bediako, who received the equipment on behalf of the health directorate, commended the donors for their timely intervention. He highlighted the strategic importance of the Asuonwunu Health Center, which serves as the main referral point for dozens of CHPS compounds within the district.
“Our CHPS zones often refer patients here, especially in emergencies and for maternity care. This donation could not have come at a better time. We are deeply grateful to Kosmos Energy, Medical Bridges, and the Catholic Health Services. Special thanks also go to Nana Achina Kwagyan V, whose tireless advocacy has brought us this far,” Pharm. Bediako stated.
He further pledged to ensure that the equipment is put to optimal use and maintained with care, assuring the donors and the public that the items will directly benefit hundreds of patients from Asuonwunu and neighboring communities.
Representatives from the Ghana Catholic Health Services lauded the collaboration and urged other partners to emulate the gesture by investing in rural healthcare infrastructure and services. According to them, community health facilities like Asuonwunu play a crucial role in early intervention, maternal health, and reducing preventable deaths in remote parts of the country.
Some residents who gathered to witness the handover expressed excitement and relief, noting that the new equipment will reduce referrals to distant hospitals and ease the burden on local health workers. A visibly emotional midwife at the center said, “This is the best support we’ve received in years. It will make a real difference, especially for our expectant mothers.”
The donation reflects Kosmos Energy’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, particularly in the health and community development sectors. For Medical Bridges, it is yet another demonstration of their mission to connect surplus medical resources in the U.S. to healthcare providers in underserved parts of the world.
With the delivery of these lifesaving supplies, the Asuonwunu Health Center is now better equipped to respond to the medical needs of the people it serves, offering hope for improved health outcomes across Amansie West.
