The Holy Spirit Catholic Polyclinic Kwasi Fante, in the Kwahu Afram Plains, South District, Eastern Ghana, has celebrated its 25th Anniversary under the theme: “Twenty-five Years of Quality Healthcare Delivery, Repositioning Holy Spirit Catholic Polyclinic for Excellence”.
The November 26, 2024 Silver Jubilee featured a number of speeches among other activities.
Speaking during the event, the Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, Catholic Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom and legal owner of the Polyclinic expressed that “It is a great joy and delight that I address you today on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of Holy Spirit Catholic Polyclinic, Kwasi Fanti, under the theme: Twenty-Five Years OF Quality Healthcare Delivery, Repositioning Holy Spirit Catholic Polyclinic for Excellence”.
The local Ordinary underlined the fact that Holy Spirit Polyclinic, being a Catholic health institution, shares and maintains the same vision of the Catholic Church in Ghana which is “to continue Christ’s healing Ministry in bringing healing to the greatest possible number of people in the provision of total quality patient care through healers with good ethical and moral standards; who are conscientious as well as professionally competent, motivated and united in their common respect for fundamental human values”.
Reflecting on the Gospel of Mathew 10:6-8 “And as you go, proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those suffering from virulent skin- diseases, drive out devils. You received without charge, give without charge,” which was Jesus’ charge to his disciples during his public ministry, the Bishop highlighted that from the Apostles, who were charged with the responsibility to continue the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, Health care delivery has become an integral part of the evangelizing mission of the Roman Catholic Church all over the world.
According to the Bishop, the Catholic Church’s healthcare delivery in Ghana has over the years been coordinated and regulated by the National Catholic Health Service, from the Department of Health of the National Catholic Secretariat, which presently operates by the name Catholic Health Trust, and under the same Department of Health at the National Catholic Secretariat in Accra.
Acknowledging the famous saying that “a journey of 1000miles begins with a step,” Bishop Asiedu recounted the humble beginnings of the present Holy Spirit Catholic Polyclinic, saying that “It all started in 1983 where some Krachi farmers together with their families migrated and settled on the Abetifi Stool land area to cultivate yam. Many of the people suffered and some even died from snakebites. Pregnant women were dying during delivery at home, and children were also dying of the six childhood killer diseases. There was no health care center close at hand to immediately attend to the urgent health needs of the people”.
He further pointed out that it was one Mr. Anthony Mensah, the first Assemblyman of the Kwasi Fante Electoral Area, (who happened to have been present for the 25th Anniversary Celebration) who, touched by the unfortunate situation, was moved to envision the establishment of a clinic to curtail these preventable deaths and to provide for the health needs of the Kwasi Fante community and beyond, and in collaboration with Opanin Kwadjo Gyaabeng, the then Odikro (Chief), the present site was released for the project, and through the hard work of the community and the financial support of the District Assembly, the first structure was completed in 1995, including the first Nurses’ quarters.
“The clinic was handed over to the Roman Catholic Church on 3rd March, 1999. It was placed under the Holy Spirit Sisters, who have since been actively and selflessly working in the facility,” he underlined.
The Facility owner expressed deep gratitude to both past and present Missionary Sisters Servant of the Holy Spirit, that have worked at the Polyclinic, for their “commitment and dedication to the mandate of Jesus to the Church, though the Apostles to heal the sick and bring relief to the suffering”.
“Holy Spirit Sisters have worked very hard and with passion over the years in diverse ways to grow the Holy Spirit Catholic Health Centre. Their intention and vision were to ensure that the health needs of the people and, especially pregnant women and children who are most vulnerable, are adequately catered for,” he added.
The Bishop was equally grateful to the Traditional Leaders, including the Chief and Elders of Abetifi, the Chief, Queen Mother and Elders of Kwasi Fanti, Local Government Officials led by the Honorable District Chief Executive, all Stakeholders, Donor Agencies and Development Partners and “our most cherished, revered, and dependable staff who are working very hard to give a facelift to the facility and to reposition Holy Spirit Catholic Polyclinic for excellence”.
The Bishop shared the desire and hope that Holy Spirit Catholic Polyclinic maintains its integrity and serve as a beacon of God’s light in the community, and that it may keep growing to meet the ever-increasing health needs of “our dear and beloved people”.
In a welcome address, Dr. Thompson Amoanor of Holy Spirit Polyclinic underscored that the Facility is dedicated to providing comprehensive health care to all the people of Afram Plains and beyond.
“We pride ourselves in the range of services we offer from advanced laboratory diagnostics, way down to minor surgeries. We have also our focused antenatal and maternity care and innovative treatments that reflect our commitment to patients-centered care” he boasted.
According to the medical doctor, the present scope of the facility includes, “the emergency and outpatient departments, male and female wards, maternity ward, a specialized department, tailored to meet the diverse needs of our community, which includes the eye unit, public health, mental health units”.
He however expressed a great staffing need, which he said has been an issue for the facility, pointing out that for them to be able to provide good, dependable and quality health care, they need more hands, to add to the few dedicated and hardworking staff, who sometimes are overstretched as a result of multi-tasking.
Dr. Peter Yeboah, Executive Director of Christian Health Association of Ghana, (CHAG) glad to be visiting the facility for the very first time, expounded on the theme chosen for the celebration “Twenty-five Years of Quality Healthcare Delivery, Repositioning Holy Spirit Catholic Polyclinic for Excellence,” which for him, is quite instructive.
According to Dr. Yeboah, repositioning a hospital, or the facility for excellence, means first and foremost, focusing on patient-centered care, implying that it is time to pursue “personalized compassionate health services that aligns with the values, preferences and needs of the client we serve, so that we will meet or address their unique emotional, physical and spiritual needs. That we will provide the type of services the people will need”.
He further explained that repositioning the facility for excellence, calls for awareness of the changing times, in terms of diseases, both communicable and non-communicable, which for him, is time to “make entry into the communities, leave the comfort of our environment, move to the community to ensure that we provide holistic and comprehensive health services, so that we will give curative, promotive, rehabilitative and palliative care to the people who have been entrusted to our care”.
Repositioning the facility for excellence, the CHAG Director added, is also a time to look at community relationships, encouraging the Chiefs, elders and the community at large to work closely with the facility, and to patronize its services more.
The Director guaranteed the Facility of their unswerving support and promised to see into the facility’s request for staff needs.
“I want to assure you, CHAG will certainly support you in this endeavor, so that you will receive both the quantity and quality services you need. My promise, together with Catholic Health Service Trust shall materialize,” he accentuated.
Mr. Raymond Aryee, the Administrator of the Polyclinic underlined one desire that is so dear to the facility which is making it a hospital, and securing a theatre is one big necessity, among others. He equally recountered a number of activities that have prceeding the grand finale of the 25th Anniversary, which began 7 months ago, beginning with the launching in April, this year, during which an appeal for funds was made towards building a generator house for the facility.
They have also had Excursions, and two massive cleanups, community relationship building programs organized in games with teachers, as well as the Nana Heema peagent, which ended up in a coronation contest won by (Nana Oheema) Victoria Ofosua, who is the face of the facility and presently the one leading in the fundraising for the theatre project and will also lead the marketing and public relation activities for the facility.
Other activities featured during the Silver Jubilee celebration included fundraising to support the course of the theatre, recognition of some important personalities including Most Rev.John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, Nana Asiedu Agyeman, Adontenhene of Kwahu, Srs. Margaret Frimpomaa Nyame, SSpS, Mary Nkrumah, SSpS and Dorota Sojka, SSpS, all past Managers of the Facility.
Dignitaries present at the occasion included a mass of Chiefs with their elders, from within and outside Afram Plains, including Nana Nyakum Panyi, of Maame Krobo and Nana Saka Ntiamoah II of Kwasi Fante, and Nana Siaw Ansong, Kontihene of Abetifi. Others were Mr. George Adjei Esq., Director of Catholic Health Service Trust (CHST), Dr. Peter Yeboah, Executive Director of Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and Md. Adelaide Kunadu, Diocesan HR.
Also present were Rev. Msgr. Paul Amankwah, Director of Koforidua District Health Service (DHS), Rev. Fr. Derrick Mawuli, Administrator of Holy Family Catholic Hospital, Nkawkaw, Sr. Mercy Benson, Provincial Superior of SSpS, Ghana Province, the SSpS Sisters and other Priests and Religious from the Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (DEPSOCOM, Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate \ Sister Communicator)
