Surgical doctors at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, have temporarily suspended all surgical procedures due to a severe water shortage affecting the facility.
Hospital authorities confirmed that the water supply issue has persisted since last week, making it unsafe to carry out surgeries and hindering essential healthcare services.
In a memo issued on March 25, the Komfo Anokye Doctors Association instructed hospital management to implement the suspension in the interest of patient safety and care.
The memo highlighted the critical role of water in maintaining hygiene, conducting surgeries, and providing proper patient care, stressing that the current shortage has compromised these vital functions. As a result, the decision to halt all surgical cases was made.
“This memo is to formally inform management of the decision taken by the Orthopaedic and Emergency Directorate to temporarily halt the admission of new patients until water supply is restored,” the memo read.
Hospital management is working to resolve the water supply issue and ensure the resumption of full operations as soon as possible.
The memo also noted that despite ongoing efforts to manage the situation, the current water crisis has reached a critical point, severely impacting patient safety and healthcare delivery.
Dr. Michael Leat, Chairman of the Association assured of their commitment to attending to existing cases while apologizing on behalf of his colleagues for the inconvenience caused by the suspension.
The association further urged hospital management to explore alternative water supply options and provide regular updates on the situation.
