20/08/2026
Kwahu Government Hospital Theatre Records Strong Performance in Regional Clinical Assessment
The Theatre and Anaesthesia Unit of the Kwahu Government Hospital has emerged as one of the best-performing theatre units in the Eastern Region following a clinical peer-review assessment conducted by the Eastern Regional Health Directorate.
The assessment evaluated the facility’s perioperative infrastructure, anaesthesia services, equipment functionality, infection prevention and control protocols, and compliance with prescribed standards for safe surgical care.
Dr. Dorcas Agbeke, a Medical Superintendent and member of the assessment team from Nkwatia, said the hospital demonstrated a high level of readiness in the provision of anaesthetic and surgical services.
According to her, the hospital operates three theatres, all of which have functional anaesthesia machines and the requisite equipment and consumables specified under the assessment model.
She said the availability of functional anaesthesia workstations across the three theatres was particularly encouraging, given the critical role of anaesthesia in perioperative patient safety, airway management and haemodynamic monitoring.
The assessment team also commended the hospital for its theatre discipline and infection prevention and control measures.
Dr. Agbeke noted that the theatre had appropriate environmental and procedural controls, including designated changing of clothing and footwear before entry into the restricted theatre area, measures which help minimise the risk of nosocomial and surgical-site infections.
She consequently described the Kwahu Government Hospital Theatre as “one of the best” she had encountered in the Eastern Region.
Despite the strong performance, the peer review identified some clinical and equipment gaps requiring attention.
A major area of concern was the absence of adequate capacity for central venous catheterisation, commonly referred to as central-line placement.
Dr. Agbeke explained that central-line competency remained a challenge in several district hospitals and recommended targeted in-service training to equip anaesthesia personnel with the requisite skills for safe central venous access.
Central venous access is important in the management of critically ill and perioperative patients, particularly where invasive haemodynamic monitoring, administration of vasoactive medications, rapid fluid resuscitation or prolonged intravenous therapy is required.
The theatre team accepted the recommendation and expressed readiness to engage management on the provision of the necessary equipment and training.
The team also identified the absence of a capnograph as another important equipment gap.
Capnography provides continuous monitoring of end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO₂), enabling anaesthesia providers to assess ventilation, detect hypoventilation, airway obstruction, apnoea and inadvertent oesophageal intubation, while also providing an important indicator of cardiopulmonary status during anaesthesia.
The theatre team said the peer-review exercise had provided an opportunity to re-emphasise the need for the equipment and pledged to pursue the necessary administrative processes to secure it.
The assessment team encouraged the hospital to maintain its existing standards while addressing the identified gaps through continuous professional development, equipment enhancement and adherence to evidence-based perioperative practices.
The peer-review exercise forms part of efforts by the Eastern Regional Health Directorate to strengthen surgical and anaesthesia services, enhance patient safety and improve the quality of perioperative care across health facilities in the region.
source: Eastern TV GH
