Vodafone helps insolvent hospital patients

Vodafone helps insolvent hospital patients

By Bernard Yaw ASHIADEY

Vodafone has paid an undisclosed amount in medical bills of about 230 insolvent patients in hospitals around the country, allowing the hospitals to release them to spend Valentine’s Day with their loved ones.

The patients were given mobile phones, Vodafone-branded mugs, T-shirts and some money for transport back home. Vodafone also registered 100HIV-positive patients for the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Speaking at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra where 29 patients were beneficiaries, Head of Corporate Communications, Vodafone, Carmen Bruce-Annan, explained why the telecommunications giant decided to repeat the initiative they started last year.

“The impact of what we did last year on the patients and the hospitals cannot be overestimated. Being admitted to hospital is tough enough; some of these patients have undergone traumatic surgery, but they also have to worry about where to find the money to pay the bills for their treatment.

“The hospital administration does a great job in trying to accommodate individuals in this situation, but they also need the bills paid in order to treat the next patient. It feels good that Vodafone can step in again and offer relief to both patients and the hospital,” she said.

Overall, 100 Vodafone employees visited Tamale West Hospital and Walewale Hospital in the Northern Region; Atonsu Agogo Hospital and KNUST Hospital in the Ashanti Region; Takoradi Hospital in the Western Region; and Ridge, Tema General, Lekma General and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospitals in the Greater Accra Region.

Victoria Aku Quaye, Director of Nursing Services, KBTH, expressed her appreciation to Vodafone for their love and support to the patients and the hospital.

“Certainly, you are going to put smiles on the faces of these patients and their families. This is going to be a great relief to these patients who have been kept here, some for as long as eight weeks.

“We are very happy that Vodafone has shown care and love to these patients, especially on Valentine’s Day,” she added.

Some of the patients who spoke to B&FT expressed their joy at the fact that finally they are able to go home and see their families. They also conveyed their love and appreciation to Vodafone for coming to their aid when all hope seemed lost.