Doctor calls for more efforts to reduce cancer deaths in Ghana children

Dr. Baffour Awuah, Medical Director of the nation’s second largest referral facility, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), has urged his colleague health professionals to do more to reduce cancer deaths among children.

The management and staff of the Paediatric Oncology Unit should work hard to tame the high fatality rate, and save children from dying through the disease, he said.

Over 90 per cent of children diagnosed of cancers in developing countries including Ghana, die, while their counterparts in the developed world survive the disease, he said, and added that they needed to work hard to change the situation.

Dr. Awuah made the call during the inauguration of the refurbished paediatric oncology ward of the hospital’s Child Health Directorate.

The project involved upgrading of the washrooms, conversion of side cubicles into treatment wards, the laying of floor tiles and painting.

Mr. Richard Addo, a civil contractor and his family, funded this at a cost of GH¢50,000.00.

The Medical Director said it was important to strengthen the collaboration among health workers, organizations and individuals to provide the required facilities and logistics to support cancer treatment.

He applauded the management team of the Unit for its efforts to attract public support to upgrade equipment and facilities to enhance treatment of childhood cancers.

Dr Samuel Antwi, acting Head of the Unit, said he found it refreshing about the increasing support the hospital was receiving from the people.

He said the refurbishment of the ward had brought tremendous relief to both patients and the staff and thanked the family for the gesture.

Mr Kingsley Adofo Addo, Spokesman of the family, described the work as a demonstration of compassion for mankind and pledged further assistance.

Source: GNA