Rotary Club of Kumasi East supplies Psychiatric medication to KATH to improve mental health service

Rotary Club of Kumasi East supplied psychiatric medication to the Psychiatric Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to improve mental health service. The donation was valued at about GH¢40,000, and is expected to support needy patients receiving treatment at the facility. Dr. Ruth Owusu-Antwi described the intervention as timely.

The Psychiatric Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital is advancing calls for the inclusion of mental health services under national health insurance coverage. Dr. Ruth Owusu-Antwi said, "We know there are efforts to enlist it on the National Health Insurance, but that has not materialized. This means patients buy medication and seek services out of their pocket every time." She also stated, "There are a few times staff have been attacked in the ward because they were aggressive and relatives could not afford medications. Some of them request for discharge against medical advice because they cannot afford medication."

Gina Akosua Acheampong, President of the Rotary Club of Kumasi East, said the donation was informed by a needs assessment conducted at the facility in line with the vision of the club. She said, "For the meantime, we envision that the medication we have supplied will help supplement their condition here at the facility. Our needs assessment disclosed how critical it was for support of this kind, and that's what Rotary Club is about: serving."