The 37 Military Hospital is a specialist hospital located in Accra, on the main road between the Kotoka International Airport and central Accra. It stands as a prominent healthcare institution in Ghana, renowned for delivering high-quality medical services and serving both military personnel and civilians. It is the largest military hospital in the Republic of Ghana.
The hospital also serves as the Government’s Emergency and Disaster Hospital and the United Nations Level IV Hospital in the West African sub-Region.
Accra Skyline
Historical Overview
The 37 Military Hospital was established in 1941 by the British government during World War II to treat soldiers injured in the Burma campaign and other military operations. It was named "37" because it was the 37th military hospital to be built in the British colony of West Africa. The hospital’s name at the time was No. 37 General Hospital, and it was later changed to become the 37 Military Hospital of the Gold Coast in 1956.
At the same time, General George Giffard also arranged the creation of the 52 Military Hospital at Takoradi, although this was later relocated to India.
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The hospital was originally established and commissioned on 4th July 1941 to provide treatment for troops injured in the Second World War.
Mission and Services
The mission of the 37 Military Hospital is to deliver excellent healthcare services, particularly in areas of emergency response, specialized care, and military medical needs. The primary objective of the facility is to provide quality healthcare to service personnel and their families, civilian employees of the Ministry of Defence and their families, and ex-service personnel, as well as the general public.
The hospital has about 500 beds and a 24-hour accident and emergency department, plus a pharmacy.
37 Military Hospital is a Teaching Hospital and is made up of several departments Surgical, Medical, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Dental, Pathology, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy and Radiology. The Surgical Division has departments including Urology, General Surgery, Orthopedics and Trauma, Plastic Surgery and Neurosurgery.
Training Institutions
The hospital also has training institutions such as the Nursing and Midwifery Training School (NMTC), School of Anesthesia, Emergency Medical Technicians School and a Post Graduate Medical College.
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Role in National Health
The 37 Military Hospital also serves as the Government’s Emergency and Disaster Hospital and the United Nations Level IV Hospital in the West African sub-Region. 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.
Collaborative Research
The 37 Military Hospital is part of a multicenter collaborative research project on prostate cancer in Africa known as the Men of African descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate (MADCaP) Network. This study involves researchers from eleven institutions in the US and Africa with an aim to look at genetic susceptibility and population genomics of prostate cancer in men of African descent.
Other Hospitals in Ghana
Ghana has several other notable hospitals, each with its own unique history and role in the nation's healthcare system:
- Korle Bu Teaching Hospital: Arguably the largest hospital in Greater Accra.
- Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital: Located in Kumasi, this 1200-bed hospital is the second-largest Teaching Hospital in the country.
- Tamale Teaching Hospital: Located in the Northern part of Ghana, it cooperates with the University for Development Studies to offer programs in medicine, nursing, and nutrition. It was formerly known as the Tamale Regional Hospital.
Conclusion
The 37 Military Hospital is more than just a military medical facility-it’s a beacon of healthcare excellence in Ghana. From providing emergency trauma care to offering specialized treatments and training the next generation of healthcare professionals, the hospital plays a vital role in Ghana’s health sector.
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