37 Military Hospital

The 37 Military Hospital is a specialist hospital located in Accra,[1] on the main road between Kotoka International Airport and central Accra.[2] It is the largest military hospital in the Republic of Ghana after the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. The name 37 was because it was the 37th military hospital to be built in the British colony of West Africa. The hospital is also known for the story of the bats who never left their chief.

37 Military Hospital
Ministry of Health
Signpost at entrance
Geography
LocationAccra, Greater Accra, Ghana
Organisation
Care systemPublic - Ghana Health Service
Services
Beds400
History
Opened1941

History

The hospital was originally established in 1941 by a British military officer, General George Giffard, as a military hospital to provide treatment for troops injured in the Second World War. At the same time, Giffard also arranged the creation of the 52 Military Hospital at Takoradi, although this was later relocated to India.[3] The hospital's name at this time was No. 37 General Hospital; it was changed to 37 Military Hospital of the Gold Coast in 1956.[4] The hospital was later expanded and opened to the public, although the hospital continues to be staffed primarily by military personnel.[2] In 2011, during a national strike by doctors in public hospitals, the Ministry of Health donated GH ¢230,000 of medical supplies to the hospital to enable it to continue treating an increased number of patients.[5] During this 19-day strike, the number of patients admitted to the hospital doubled.[6]

In the aftermath of the 2015 Accra explosion amid the 2015 Accra floods, so many bodies were taken to the hospital that the morgue was overwhelmed. The explosion killed over 150 people.[7][8]

Facilities

In total, the hospital has around 400 beds. It has a 24-hour accident and emergency department and pharmacy.[2] Its x-ray facilities are also available 24 hours a day.[9] Other departments include divisions for dental treatment, gynaecology, paediatrics and veterinary treatment.[2] Its trauma department has been described by one travel guide as "the best in Accra".[9]

The hospital is also used as a teaching hospital for post-graduate medical students.[2]

The Hospital was established on July 4, 1941, as the 37th facility by the allied forces in the then Gold Coast.[10] From 1991 till today the German company Hospital Engineering GmbH had significant participation in the phased Development of the 37 Military Hospital and is responsible for the maintenance of the equipment:[11]

  • Medical Oxygen Production and Distribution (1991/1992)
  • Operating Theatre Block, including Central Sterilisation Department (1992/1993)
  • Mortuary and Department of Morbid Anatomy (1995)
  • Pharmacy (1998-2001)
  • Laboratories, including Blood Bank (1998-2001)
  • Functional Diagnostics Department (1998-2001)
  • Burns Unit (1998-2001)
  • Intensive Care Unit (1998-2001)
  • VIP/Officers Ward (1998-2001)
  • Rank Wards (1998-2001)
  • Satellite Maternity Unit (1998-2001)
  • Out-Patient-Department Planning Design, Architectural Drawings, Turnkey Construction (2004)

The departments at the hospital include:[12]

Emergency

The hospital helped in the fight of the novel Coronavirus.[14]

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References
  1. "37 Military Hospital commended for dedication during doctors strike". vibeghana.com. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  2. "37 Military Hospital Accra, Ghana". The Electives Network. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  3. Addae, S. Kojo (2004). The Gold Coast And Achimota In The Second World War. Sedco. p. 74. ISBN 978-9964-72-249-4.
  4. Addae, S. Kojo (1997). The Evolution of Modern Medicine in a Developing Country: Ghana 1880-1960. Durham Academic Press. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-900838-05-4.
  5. "Ministry of Health donates to 37 Military Hospital". Ghana Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  6. "37 Military Hospital Doctors Happy GMA Strike Is Over". Modern Ghana. 28 October 2011.
  7. "Accra floods: More than 100 feared dead after explosion". Daily Guide. 4 June 2015. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  8. O'Connor, Roisin (4 June 2015). "Accra floods: More than 70 people reported dead after petrol station fire in Ghana's capital city". The Independent. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  9. Briggs, Philip (2010). Ghana. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 132. ISBN 978-1-84162-325-2.
  10. Addo, Christabel (4 August 2016). "37 Military Hospital launches 75th anniversary celebrations". Ghana News Agency.
  11. "Hospital Engineering GmbH". www.hospital-engineering.de.
  12. "37 Military Hospital − Hospital description". Electives.net. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  13. "GCB Bank commissions dialysis unit at 37 Military Hospital - citifmonline.com". citifmonline.com. 2018-03-20. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
  14. "Gulf Energy, CareWorld Global support 37 Military Hospital Covid-19 treatment Centre". MyJoyOnline.com. 2020-04-22. Retrieved 2020-05-01.

Further reading
  • Mensah, R. S., R. S. Mogale, and M. S. Richter. "Birthing experiences of Ghanaian women in 37th Military Hospital, Accra, Ghana." International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences 1 (2014): 29-34.

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