CHILD RIGHTS International (CRI), a child centered organisation, has commended President Akufo-Addo for his decision to bear the full cost of surgery on the Siamese twins at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
The organisation, in a statement signed by Bright Appiah, its Executive Director, said the decision of the government to pay the full cost of the surgery was commendable.
“CRI wants to express its profound gratitude to Mr. President for taking up the cost of surgery for the twins and giving them the opportunity to experience life without the limitations of their condition,” the statement said.
CRI said the President has demonstrated that he had the interest of every Ghanaian child at heart, showing that any investment on children was an investment well made.
“Every Ghanaian child is a national asset,” the statement added.
Background
The Chief of Staff, Madam Frema Osei-Opare, on Monday morning visited the twins and their parents at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and during the visit, she announced that the President has taken up all the cost of the surgery.
She said the presidency was allocating GH¢15million to pay for the entire procedure.
Of the amount, GH¢12million will be used to obtain a specialised equipment needed for the surgery and will become an asset of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) after the surgery.
The amount of GH¢3million will be used to procure consumables, medication, and tests that the family would have paid for during the 12-18 months process to separate the Siamese twins.
“The President recognises the fact that this effort that you want to put in is very much in line with the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda. We also noted in a cabinet meeting that this is an opportunity to also equip us to do complicated surgeries and so on,” the Chief of Staff told the doctors.
CRI on Medical Experts
Now that the government has taken up the cost, CRI said the task “is now in the hands of the medical experts at Greater Accra Regional Hospital and the team must do everything within its power to ensure the safety of the twins.”
The organisation, therefore, prayed that this mission by medical experts at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital would be successful.
“As Ghana prepares to set a new record in the field of medicine, we wish our medical experts the best and nothing else,” the statement said.