Ridge Hospital hosts Sanford Health delegation for emergency and basic life support training
Story by: Regina Bless
The Greater Accra Regional Hospital, popularly known as Ridge Hospital, has hosted a medical delegation from Sanford Health for an intensive training programme on emergency care and Basic Life Support aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and improving patient survival.
The training brought together healthcare professionals for practical sessions on emergency response, resuscitation techniques and other critical life-saving procedures.
Delivering the keynote address, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, reflected on his early professional experiences at Ridge Hospital and highlighted the challenges confronting emergency healthcare delivery in Ghana.
He observed that emergency departments often receive patients whose conditions have already deteriorated significantly, stressing the need for healthcare professionals to prioritise patients and respond promptly to emergencies.
Dr. Kaba urged the hospital’s management and staff to maintain the highest standards of healthcare delivery, describing Ridge Hospital as a strategic institution whose performance influences the wider Ghana Health Service.
“The entire country is looking at us. If something should come out of the Ghana Health Service, it has to come through here,” he stated.
He further encouraged Ridge Hospital to take the lead in developing the capacity of healthcare professionals by sharing expertise and supporting other health facilities to improve service delivery.
The Director-General also emphasised the importance of excellent customer care, urging staff to treat patients with compassion, respect and professionalism while attending to emergency cases with the urgency they require.
Dr. Kaba highlighted the longstanding partnership between the Ghana Health Service and Sanford Health, which he said began approximately 15 years ago and continues to contribute to healthcare development in the country.
He expressed appreciation to the Sanford Health team for its continued support, including the recent donation of medical shoes for health workers across Ghana. He also presented certificates to participants in recognition of their involvement in the training.
Travis Spier, Enterprise Director at Sanford Health’s Center for Pre-hospital Care and Simulation, led the practical training sessions, focusing on critical life-support procedures and effective emergency response.
His sessions covered cardiac arrest management, pulse checks, chest compressions, ventilation, airway management and neonatal and adult resuscitation techniques.
Participants were also trained on the importance of clear communication, coordinated teamwork and minimising interruptions during resuscitation efforts to improve the chances of patient survival. The training further addressed the appropriate administration of intravenous fluids based on individual patient needs.
As part of the programme, Karoliina Slack, Vice President of Sanford World Clinic, presented a donation of specialised medical bags for nurses at the hospital.
The donation was formally received by Mrs. Rita K. Akoto, Chief Nursing Officer and Head of Nursing and Midwifery at Ridge Hospital.
The programme ended with renewed commitments from hospital leadership and staff to promote continuous professional development, strengthen emergency response capacity and ensure quality, patient-centred healthcare.
The collaboration between Ridge Hospital, the Ghana Health Service and Sanford Health is expected to support efforts to improve emergency care and equip healthcare professionals with essential skills to respond effectively to life-threatening situations.