First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo at the commissioning of the Mother & Baby Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
The Rebecca Foundation, spearheaded by First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has announced plans to begin the construction of an intensive care unit for the children’s block of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
Mrs Akufo-Addo, who made this announcement at the commissioning of the $2.5m ultra-modern Mother & Baby Unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi on Friday, said the new project is scheduled to commence in February 2018.
The KBTH Child Health Services (CHS) Department is faced with many challenges, including the lack of an intensive care unit for the children who are admitted at the facility.
Professor Bamenla Goka, Head of the CHS Department, had stated in an interview that five percent of the children who die at the facility annually lose their lives due to the unavailability of an intensive care unit.
Mrs Akufo-Addo explained that the KBTH Children’s ICU project which falls under the foundation’s initiative called the ‘Rebecca’s Special Initiative’ is to show her commitment to women and children in the area of health and economic well-being, as stipulated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The Rebecca Foundation is committed to the welfare of women and children. We have started a number of initiatives to address social issues. The Sustainable Development Goal 3 enjoins us to ensure healthy lives and promotes well-being for all, at all ages. This includes taking steps to lower our maternal and infant mortality rates,” she pointed out.
The Rebecca’s Special Initiative executed the Komfo Anokye Mother & Baby Unit and is currently supporting Korle-Bu to build a hostel for parents of children receiving cancer treatment.
The 30-bed hostel facility meant for intensive care will help provide accommodation for child cancer patients and their parents. It is expected to cost about GH¢2m.
The first lady expressed the hope that the projects, together with the needed interventions like the elimination of mother to child HIV transmission, “will get us closer to achieving our maternal and infant mortality goals.”
She further called for support and funding from corporate organisations and Ghanaians to fast-track the construction of the project.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri