President John Dramani Mahama has commended the management and staff of the 37 Military Hospital for their unwavering dedication to saving lives, while presenting relief items to the facility as part of activities marking the first day of the National Clean-Up Exercise.
Addressing health workers at the hospital, President Mahama reflected on the devastating impact of the recent floods, describing the disaster as one of the country’s most challenging humanitarian emergencies in recent times.
He disclosed that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), following nationwide assessments, had confirmed approximately 13 flood-related deaths, while five or six people remained unaccounted for. Beyond the tragic loss of lives, he noted that thousands of families had suffered extensive property damage and displacement.
According to the President, an estimated 58,000 people were temporarily displaced by the floods. While many have found temporary shelter with relatives, others continue to rely on government assistance and emergency support.
To alleviate the suffering of affected families, President Mahama announced that the Minister for Finance had released GH¢200 million to NADMO to procure relief items for flood victims across the country.
He said NADMO had already made significant progress in distributing the relief supplies, completing operations in the Central, Western and Volta regions and currently finalising distributions in the Greater Accra Region.
The President explained that the relief packages include essential items such as rice, other food supplies, mattresses, buckets and household necessities to help families recover from the disaster.
He also acknowledged the contribution of Ghanaian businesses and philanthropic organisations, which donated a wide range of products to complement government’s relief efforts.
According to him, private companies contributed items including diapers, liquid detergents, washing powder, antiseptics, disinfectants, bleach, beverages, instant noodles and other essential supplies needed to support flood victims and promote environmental sanitation.
President Mahama emphasized that these donated items were intended solely for affected persons, noting that NADMO’s responsibility was to ensure they reached the rightful beneficiaries.
Presenting a consignment of relief items to the 37 Military Hospital, the President said the gesture was in recognition of the institution’s indispensable role as Ghana’s premier national emergency and trauma centre.
“We recognise that the 37 Military Hospital is the country’s number one national emergency and trauma centre, and because of the role you play in saving lives, we could not distribute these relief items without supporting you,” he said.
He explained that a portion of the donated supplies had been specifically allocated to the hospital to assist healthcare professionals in delivering quality care during the ongoing emergency response.
President Mahama concluded by expressing profound appreciation to the management, doctors, nurses and the entire staff of the 37 Military Hospital for their commitment, sacrifice and dedicated service to the people of Ghana, assuring them of government’s continued support.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
