Andrew Barnes, Elizabeth Bruce with Kenneth Baidoo, Head of Ear, Nose and Throat Unit, and other officials cutting the tape for the official opening of the centre
The Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), with support from the Australian High Commission to Ghana, has refurbished its speech and language therapy centre at a cost of GH¢200,000.
The ultra-modern centre created from part of the eye clinic of the hospital can boast of observation and therapy rooms, as well as a library.
The opening of the centre which was symbolically done during a brief ceremony signifies the commencement of its services, including diagnosing and treating people with speech and swallowing disorders.
It will also treat patients recovering from stroke or major head and neck cancer surgeries.
The Director of Pharmacy at KBTH, Elizabeth Bruce, who represented the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KBTH, Dr Felix Anyah, expressed management’s gratitude for the support provided to the centre over the years.
She said with the new centre, the hospital from next month will add a cochlear implant service, an electronic device that provides hearing for people who cannot obtain any benefit from conventional hearing aids to the services being offered and also recruiting additional therapists for the centre.
“We will be engaging partners for the incorporation of a cochlear implant service in February and so it is very opportune that we have this centre which will house all related works with regard to speech and language disabilities,” Madam Bruce added.
Australian High Commissioner Andrew Barnes expressed appreciation to all donors who made the project a success.
He mentioned that there are plans to have more language and speech therapists across the country trained by professional therapists from outside the country.
Work on a paediatric audiology unit which forms part of the remodeling of the centre will soon be completed to expand service to babies.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri