Madam Ebi Bright, the Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), has cut sod for the construction of a new neonatal unit at the Manhean Polyclinic, to enhance specialised healthcare delivery for newborns in the area.
The sod-cutting ceremony marked the official commencement of the project, which is being implemented under the Partnerships for Municipal Innovation – Women in Local Leadership (PMI-WILL) programme.
The initiative is co-sponsored by the Government of Canada, through Global Affairs Canada, and the TMA in collaboration with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG).
The project forms part of a broader partnership between Ghanaian local authorities and their Canadian counterparts, with Tema selected as one of five districts nationwide to benefit from Canadian government funding for interventions aimed at addressing gender-related and health system challenges.
Mr Frank Asante, the Public Relations Officer of the TMA, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the project site had been officially handed over to the contractor by the assembly’s Works Department.
Mr Asante said the sod-cutting ceremony was attended by members of the Tema Traditional Council, opinion leaders, hospital management, and officials of the assembly.
He disclosed that the contractor had assured the assembly that the facility would be completed within a four-month period.
He explained that the Manhean Polyclinic currently operated neonatal services from a small consulting room, which lacks the capacity of a fully equipped nursery or neonatal ward.
He noted that as a result, several neonatal cases are frequently referred to the Tema General Hospital, placing additional pressure on tertiary health facilities and the parents.
Mr Asante said the construction of a dedicated neonatal unit had become necessary as mothers and their newborns previously shared general ward spaces, posing challenges to effective neonatal care and infection control.
He stated that the new unit would provide a more conducive environment for specialised newborn care, improve health outcomes, and significantly reduce emergency referrals to larger hospitals.
He added that engineers from the TMA Works Department would closely monitor the progress of the project to ensure timely completion, while maximising the limited land space available within the polyclinic.