{{short description|Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana}} {{Infobox hospital | name = 37 Military Hospital | org_group = Ministry of Health | image = 37 Military Hospital Sign Post.jpg | alt = | image_size = 225 | caption = Signpost at entrance | pushpin_map = | pushpin_relief = <!-- any non-blank value (yes, 1, etc.) will cause the template to display a relief map image, where available --> | pushpin_mapsize = <!-- width of the map in pixels (do not include "px"); default is 225 --> | pushpin_map_alt = <!-- alternative text for map image, see WP:ALT for details --> | pushpin_map_caption = <!-- Optional. Gives a small caption under the map such as "Shown in region, country" --> | logo = <!-- Please conform to copyright --> | logo_size = <!-- Use to limit the logo size --> | location = Accra | region = Greater Accra | state = <!-- optional UK: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland. US: The US State - NB autolinked --> | country = Ghana | coordinates = <!-- (alternative to latitude/longitude) use template {{coord}} with 'display=inline, title' --> | address = <!-- Address of main building --> | healthcare = Public - Ghana Health Service | funding = <!-- Non-profit, For-profit, Government, Public - will generate linka --> | type = <!-- Community, District, General, District General, Teaching, Specialist --> | speciality = <!-- if devoted to a speciality (i.e. not a broad spectrum of specialities) and Type=Specialist/Teaching --> | standards = <!-- optional if no national standards --> | emergency = <!-- UK/IR/HK/SG: Yes/No, CA/IL/US: I/II/III/IV/V for Trauma certification level --> | helipad = <!-- Yes, No, or use "Template:Airport codes" with p=n. Only list if verifiable, leave blank if unknown. --> | affiliation = <!-- 'None' or Medical School and university affiliations (medical or paramedical) --> | patron = <!-- 'None' or the individual who acts as the hospital patron --> | network = <!-- Hospital network, non-owner --> | beds = 700 | founded = {{start date and age|1941}} | closed = <!-- Use if defunct, please also add to Category:Defunct hospitals --> | demolished = <!-- Use if demolished at a different time from closure --> | website = <!-- Use {{URL}} --> | other_links = <!-- Creates "See also" field --> }} The '''37 Military Hospital''' is a specialist hospital located in Accra,<ref name=commended>{{cite web|title=37 Military Hospital commended for dedication during doctors strike|url=http://vibeghana.com/2011/12/14/37-military-hospital-commended-for-dedication-during-doctors-strike/|publisher=vibeghana.com|access-date=21 February 2014}}</ref> on the main road between the Accra International Airport and central Accra.<ref name=Elective/> It is the largest military hospital in the Republic of Ghana. It was named "37" because it was the 37th military hospital to be built in the British colony of West Africa. The hospital is also known for the story of the bats who never left their chief.
==Background and History== The hospital was originally established in 1941 by a British military officer, General George Giffard, as a military hospital to provide treatment for troops injured in the Second World War. At the same time, Giffard also arranged the creation of the 52 Military Hospital at Takoradi, although this was later relocated to India.<ref name="Addae">{{cite book|last=Addae|first=S. Kojo|title=The Gold Coast And Achimota In The Second World War|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BXJyAAAAMAAJ|year=2004|publisher=Sedco|isbn=978-9964-72-249-4|page=74}}</ref> The hospital's name at this time was No. 37 General Hospital; it was changed to 37 Military Hospital of the Gold Coast in 1956.<ref name="Addae1997">{{cite book|last=Addae|first=S. Kojo|title=The Evolution of Modern Medicine in a Developing Country: Ghana 1880-1960|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R5oeAQAAIAAJ|year=1997|publisher=Durham Academic Press|isbn=978-1-900838-05-4|page=111}}</ref> The hospital was later expanded and opened to the public, although the hospital continues to be staffed primarily by military personnel.<ref name=Elective/> In 2011, during a national strike by doctors in public hospitals, the Ministry of Health donated GH ¢230,000 of medical supplies to the hospital to enable it to continue treating an increased number of patients.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ministry of Health donates to 37 Military Hospital|url=http://www.gaf.mil.gh/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=198:ministry-of-health-donates-to-37-military-hospital-&catid=13:news&Itemid=34|publisher=Ghana Armed Forces|access-date=1 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305062833/http://www.gaf.mil.gh/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=198:ministry-of-health-donates-to-37-military-hospital-&catid=13:news&Itemid=34|archive-date=5 March 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> During this 19-day strike, the number of patients admitted to the hospital doubled.<ref>{{cite news|title=37 Military Hospital Doctors Happy GMA Strike Is Over|url=http://www.modernghana.com/news/358198/1/37-military-hospital-doctors-happy-gma-strikeis-ov.html|newspaper=Modern Ghana|date=28 October 2011}}</ref>
In the aftermath of the 2015 Accra explosion amid the 2015 Accra floods, so many bodies were taken to the hospital that the morgue was overwhelmed. The explosion killed over 150 people.<ref name="dailyguide1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailyguideghana.com/accra-floods-more-than-100-feared-dead-after-explosion/ |location=Accra, Ghana|title=Accra floods: More than 100 feared dead after explosion |date=4 June 2015 |access-date=4 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707115044/http://www.dailyguideghana.com/accra-floods-more-than-100-feared-dead-after-explosion/ |archive-date=7 July 2015 |newspaper=Daily Guide}}</ref><ref name="indp">{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/accra-floods-more-than-70-people-reported-dead-after-petrol-station-fire-in-ghanas-capital-city-10296123.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605001948/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/accra-floods-more-than-70-people-reported-dead-after-petrol-station-fire-in-ghanas-capital-city-10296123.html |archive-date=2015-06-05 |url-access=limited |url-status=live | title=Accra floods: More than 70 people reported dead after petrol station fire in Ghana's capital city | publisher=The Independent | date=4 June 2015 | access-date=4 June 2015 | author=O'Connor, Roisin}}</ref>
=== Bat colony ===
The area near 37 military hospital is home to a colony of straw-coloured fruit bats. According to local legend, the colony was established after the bats accompanied a village chief from eastern Ghana who came to the hospital for treatment. After his death, the bats never left the area.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Ghana: The bats who never left their chief | last=Borelli | first=Lisa Marie | newspaper=Farm Radio Weekly | date=26 May 2013 | url=http://wire.farmradio.fm/en/farmer-stories/2013/05/ghana-the-bats-who-never-left-their-chief-by-lisa-marie-borrelli-for-farm-radio-weekly-in-ghana-10545}}</ref> ==Medical Directors== ==Donations== ==Development==
==Facilities== In total, the hospital has around 500 beds. It has a 24-hour accident and emergency department and pharmacy.<ref name=Elective/> Its x-ray facilities are also available 24 hours a day.<ref name=Briggs2010/> Other departments include divisions for dental treatment, gynecology, pediatrics and veterinary treatment.<ref name=Elective/> Its trauma department has been described by one travel guide as "the best in Accra".<ref name="Briggs2010">{{cite book|last=Briggs|first=Philip|title=Ghana|url=https://archive.org/details/ghanabradttravel0000brig|url-access=registration|year=2010|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=978-1-84162-325-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/ghanabradttravel0000brig/page/132 132]}}</ref>
The hospital is also used as a teaching hospital for post-graduate medical students.<ref name=Elective/>
The hospital was established on July 4, 1941, as the 37th facility by the allied forces in the then Gold Coast.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ghananewsagency.org/health/37-military-hospital-launches-75th-anniversary-celebrations-106428|title=37 Military Hospital launches 75th anniversary celebrations |publisher=Ghana News Agency |first=Christabel |last=Addo |date=4 August 2016}}</ref> From 1991 till today the German company Hospital Engineering GmbH had significant participation in the phased development of the 37 Military Hospital and is responsible for the maintenance of the equipment:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hospital-engineering.de/|title=Hospital Engineering GmbH|website=www.hospital-engineering.de}}</ref> * Medical Oxygen Production and Distribution (1991/1992) * Operating Theatre Block, including Central Sterilisation Department (1992/1993) * Mortuary and Department of Morbid Anatomy (1995) * Pharmacy (1998-2001) * Laboratories, including Blood Bank (1998-2001) * Functional Diagnostics Department (1998-2001) * Burns Unit (1998-2001) * Intensive Care Unit (1998-2001) * VIP/Officers Ward (1998-2001) * Rank Wards (1998-2001) * Satellite Maternity Unit (1998-2001) * Out-Patient-Department Planning Design, Architectural Drawings, Turnkey Construction (2004)
The departments at the hospital include:<ref name="37 Military Hospital − Hospital description">{{cite web |url=http://www.electives.net/hospital/5617 |title=37 Military Hospital − Hospital description|access-date=2014-04-30 |work=Electives.net }}</ref> * Shopping Mall * Accident & Emergency * Dental Division * Public Health Division * Medical Division * Medical Reception Stations * Obstetrics & Gynaecology * Paediatric Division * Pathology Division * Pharmacy Division * Radio Diagnosis, Radiography & X-ray * Surgical Division * Veterinary Division * Health Training School (Medical Education) * Renal Dialysis Unit<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://citifmonline.com/2018/03/20/gcb-bank-commissions-dialysis-unit-at-37-military-hospital/|title=GCB Bank commissions dialysis unit at 37 Military Hospital - citifmonline.com|date=2018-03-20|work=citifmonline.com|access-date=2018-04-12|language=en-US}}</ref> * Ophthalmology Division * Ear, Nose, and Throat Division
==Emergency== The hospital helped in the fight of the novel Coronavirus.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gulf Energy, CareWorld Global support 37 Military Hospital Covid-19 treatment Centre|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/national/gulf-energy-careworld-global-support-37-military-hospital-covid-19-treatment-centre/|date=2020-04-22|website=MyJoyOnline.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-01}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=Elective>{{cite web|title=37 Military Hospital Accra, Ghana|url=http://www.electives.net/hospital/5617|work=The Electives Network|access-date=1 March 2014}}</ref> }}
==Further reading== {{commons category}} *Mensah, R. S., R. S. Mogale, and M. S. Richter. "Birthing experiences of Ghanaian women in 37th Military Hospital, Accra, Ghana." International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences 1 (2014): 29–34.
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Category:Hospitals in Ghana Category:Buildings and structures in Accra Category:Military installations of Ghana Category:Hospitals established in 1941 Category:1941 establishments in Africa Category:Military hospitals in Africa