A tragic incident has occurred at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana, where Dr. Kwame Adu Ofori, an Emergency Physician, died over the weekend due to a heart attack.
Despite efforts by his colleagues to save him, they were unable to treat the blockage in one of the blood vessels pumping blood to his heart because the hospital lacks a catheterization laboratory.
The absence of this critical facility has sparked concerns about the poor state of medical infrastructure in Ghana’s public health facilities.
Currently, there is only one such laboratory in the country, located in Accra.
Dr. Paa Kwesi Baidoo, CEO of KATH, recounted the events leading to Dr. Ofori’s death, stating that despite stabilization and arrangements for a military airlift to Accra for further treatment, Dr. Ofori unfortunately passed away en route.
Dr. Ofori was an active contributor to emergency medical care at KATH, and his death highlights the urgent need for improved medical infrastructure and retooling of public health facilities in Ghana.
The hospital’s CEO emphasizes the importance of investing in quality healthcare delivery to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
