GCB aids typhoid research project in Ghana

The Ghana Commercial Bank Limited (GCB) has supported the Typhoid Project in the country with an amount of GH¢50,000.

The amount is to fund a four-year study in Typhoid bowel perforation, a fatal complication of Typhoid fever, which requires emergency surgical intervention and which mostly affects children and young people under 30 years of age, a press release from the bank said .

Presenting the cheque to officials of the project, Mr. Simon Dornoo, Managing Director of GCB said “the Bank is committed to supplementing the health care needs of Ghanaians and the immense contribution made by health personnel in the treatment of typhoid fever.”

He noted that there is the need for advocacy to help eradicate typhoid fever through an improvement in public sanitation conditions, the promotion of hygienic habits and the provision of proper drinking water and drainage systems.

Dr. Ben Baako, a Consultant Surgeon at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital and a champion of the Typhoid Project who received the cheque, thanked GCB for the donation.

He said this will enable the project find a more effective method of treating the disease as compared to the fixed operating procedures traditionally used.

Dr. Baako said it was disheartening to have a patient who is beyond help brought to the hospital for treatment.

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection of the intestinal tract and bloodstream spread through contaminated food or water and which affects a sizeable number of the country’s growing population.

By Pascal Kelvin Kudiabor