Health facilities along the Kumasi-Bosomtwe road are raising serious concerns over the deteriorating state of the stretch, warning that the situation is endangering lives and undermining healthcare delivery in the area.
St. Michael’s Hospital, a mission primary facility located at Pramso in the Ashanti Region, is among the hardest hit. The hospital, which serves the Bosomtwe District and surrounding communities, has endured the effects of the poor road condition for years.
Head of Procurement at the facility, Dr. Jacob Kuutuome, speaking on Luv FM’s Luv in the Morning, outlined the daily challenges confronting both patients and staff.
He noted that accessibility has become a major problem, deterring many patients from seeking care.
“It is affecting our clients. Those who used to travel from Atonsu to this place can no longer come,” he said.
Beyond access, the hospital is also grappling with the high cost of maintaining medical equipment damaged by excessive dust from the unpaved road.
Dr. Kuutuome revealed that sensitive machines, which cost between GH¢18,000 and GH¢46,000, are frequently damaged, posing risks to patient care.
“These are machines that have sensors that are supposed to monitor patients. Once the sensors are damaged by dust, we keep buying. If you take an X-ray machine, depending on the model, you can buy it from GH¢18,000 to GH¢46,000,” he explained.
He added that management has been compelled to provide nose masks to patients in wards due to the unbearable dust conditions.
“You come to our emergency ward and the main ward where we have patients—it is an eyesore. Sometimes some of them have to be put on nose masks because the dust is unbearable,” he stated.
Dr. Kuutuome further highlighted the impact on maternal health, revealing that some pregnant women have been forced to deliver in vehicles before reaching the hospital due to the poor nature of the road.
Despite repeated engagements with stakeholders under both previous and current administrations, he said no concrete action has been taken.
“Management has engaged a lot of stakeholders in the past government and the current government, and the assurance is that they will come and do it. But as to when, we don’t know,” he noted.
He, however, acknowledged a temporary intervention by the District Chief Executive (DCE), who at one point arranged for the road to be watered to reduce dust, although the effort was discontinued due to lack of funds.
“We must commend the DCE because at some point he was watering the road, but he ran out of money,” he added.
Residents, health workers and investors in the area are calling on government to prioritise the rehabilitation of the Kumasi-Bosomtwe road as a matter of urgency.
