Two Institutions provide medical supplies to burns victims

Accra, Aug. 28, GNA - Two institutions on Thursday donated assorted medical supplies to the National Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, to mitigate difficulties facing the Centre.

The donation, which was made by the Databank Arkfund and YFM, a Takoradi-based radio station, is expected to help survivors of the June 3 fire disaster in Accra that killed hundreds and displaced a lot more.

The Managing Director of Global Media Alliance, Mr Akwasi Agyemang noted that the gesture was borne out of the urgent need for the victims of the unfortunate incident to get immediate attention and assistance to recover and live normal lives.

Giving the great number of people who die from burns every year, Mr Agyemang appealed to government and corporate bodies to support the Centre to offer surgical treatment to victims of burns and other persons who might require similar help to survive.

Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah, Director of the Centre, observed that burns prevention is a responsibility of all since it is a condition that could permanently disable people.

He described burns as a national challenge, and that the support of corporate bodies during the June 3 disaster had helped a lot to avert another catastrophe at the Centre, given the pressure and limited resources including manpower..

Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah said the treatment of a person with 50 per cent burns cost from GH¢ 30,000.00 to GH¢ 40,000.00 but the National Health Insurance could only cover GH¢ 900.00 of any cost that was incurred, placing huge financial burden on victims.

He said the Centre's intensive care unit required urgent assistance such as upgrading facilities to modern standard level while more doctors and nurses are required to prevent needless deaths.

Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah said healthcare financing is very critical for quality service delivery, and urged stakeholders to generate discussions around the topic in order to find lasting solution to hiccups confronting the country's health sector.

GNA