Maegaret Marquart Hospital honours past workers, page 21

Story: Tim Dzamboe,Kpando

The staff and management of the Margret Marquart Catholic Hospital at Kpando have honoured 23 past workers who had gone on retirement after working for an average of 35 years.
The were honoured at the maiden Pensioners Appreciation Day(PAD) instituted by the hospital under the theme, “They shall not grow old, we that are left grow old, age shall weary them nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning we shall remember them”.
They were presented with parcels and some plastic chairs and special envelopes including a golden handshake.
Various speakers at the function commended the hospital authorities for instituting the day because it was the first of its kind in the Ho diocese and the region as a whole.
In an address, the district director of medical services, Dr Winfred Ofosu said the occasion had shown that it is worth dying for the hospital and that it would serve as a motivation for the current staff to rededicate their sense to duty.
He thanked the pensioners for their invaluable service to the nation and asked them to adopt pragmatic approach to the management of life in retirement especially when they will lose compatriots at workplace and loneliness at home.
Dr Ofosu advised pensioners to eat rich and nourishable foods, fruits and vegetables as well as to involve themselves in social and community activities,
He called on workers to fight for better salaries in order to influence the higher payment of pensioner’s allowances when they go on retirement.
He frowned on unsatisfactory attitude of health workers against clients adding that it had affected the image of all hospitals in the country and called on management to maintain high standards at the hospital.
The Superior General of the sisters of the Mary Mother of the church, Reverend Sister Cecilia Kudexa said the sisters were ready to associate with a noble endeavour and will be ready to work among people who were dedicated to their work.
A past Diocesan health administrator, Reverend Father Cletus Frank Egbi said those who have sacrificed their lives should not forget those who are presently working adding that the present workforce should uphold the call to duty.
In an address, the medical officer in-charge, Dr Kuklui Gavua said the staff had served as a source of hope for many patients who had sought spiritual and medical healing at the hospital.
He disclosed that an average of 180 patients seek treatment in the hospital daily saying that the hospital had served as a mini-teaching and referral hospital in the Volta Region next to the Volta Regional hospital.
In a welcoming address, the chaplain of the hospital, Rev. Dr. Apollinaris Anyomi said pension was a good way of learning to recollect past memories for nurturing and admonishing younger generations to enable them to refuse, reject and to be disallowed to be frustrated by anything.