16 Doctors to benefit from training in trauma life support in UK
Sixteen Ghanaian doctors from different backgrounds are to benefit from a pioneering programme in Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) in the United Kingdom (UK) to help in the handling of accident and trauma victims in the country.
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The three-week programme, and the establishment of an ATLS centre in the country, are estimated to cost $100,000. The government is expected to provide funding for the project that is supposed to take off before the end of the year.
Ghana will become the fifth African country to benefit from the international standardised trauma programme after South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
In this regard, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Department of Emergency Medicine of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) on one hand and the ATLS Organisation and the American College of Surgeons on the other.
The Head of Emergency Medicine Department of KATH, Dr George Oduro, signed for Ghana, while Prof. Igner Schipper, a professor of surgery from The Netherlands and a member of he ATLS team, signed for the international organisation.
Dr Oduro said a steering group would select the doctors using various criteria and the international group would be back in Ghana to assess the first trainers on the knowledge gained.
In a related development, a 30-member medical team from the Boston Children Hospital and the Havard University are in KATH to offer free surgery to children suffering from heart-related diseases.
Accidents
Currently, Ghana is one of the African countries ranked high in road accidents, with an average of five people dying each day.
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According to statistics from the Ghana National Road Safety Commission, 13,133 road accidents occurred in 2014. Out of the number, 11, 328 persons were injured while 1,856 others lost their lives.