Surgical procedures at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi have been suspended due to an ongoing water shortage that has significantly affected healthcare delivery.
The crisis, which has persisted for over a week, has rendered surgical operations unsafe, prompting the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association to issue a directive on March 25, halting all surgical cases until the situation improves.
In a memo addressed to hospital management, the association stressed that water is critical for maintaining hygiene, conducting surgeries, and ensuring patient safety. The current shortage, it noted, has compromised these essential functions, leaving no choice but to temporarily suspend admissions to the Orthopaedic and Emergency Directorate.
Despite efforts to manage the crisis, the association stated that the situation had reached a critical level, posing risks to both patients and medical personnel.
Chairman of the association, Dr. Michael Leat, assured that doctors would continue attending to existing cases while expressing regret over the inconvenience caused by the suspension. He also called on hospital management to urgently explore alternative water supply solutions and provide updates on efforts to resolve the issue.
