40-bed facility to boost cancer care, treatment
An organisation dedicated to offering support to children with cancer, Lifeline for Childhood Cancer Ghana, is constructing a new 40-bed facility for the care and treatment of childhood cancer cases at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
When completed by the end of this year, it is expected that the facility will be a complete centre with diagnostics, imaging, consulting rooms, playrooms, cafeterias and isolation wards for the care and treatment of childhood cancers.
The Executive Director of Lifeline for Childhood Cancer Ghana, Akua Sarpong, who disclosed this to the media during a donation of a six-kilowatt off-grid solar power system to the Rebecca Akufo-Addo Sunshine Hostel at the KBTH last Thursday, said the total cost of the project is $1.6 million, and so far they had been able to raise $458,000, adding that they were now at the third floor of the construction and they were about to do the roofing.
The facility is expected to double the number of patients that were attended to at the KBTH for childhood cancer.
“Currently, we take care of between 220 to 280 children each year. We can double it to 600 when completed, which means that more children with cancer have a chance of survival,” she added.
Ms Sarpong pointed out that currently, space to treat children with cancer at the hospital was a problem, adding that they only have a 24-bed ward for childhood cancers, while the Komfo Anokye Hospital has 10 wards dedicated to childhood cancers.
The Greater Accra Regional Hospital, formerly Ridge Hospital, also has six wards for childhood cancers.
She said for a country that expects to see about 1500 new childhood cancer cases each year, they were only able to diagnose under 500 because there was no space. Therefore, the new building would help in addressing the problem.
The Executive Director commended Ghacem Cement for supporting the construction with cement, Enterprise Group Limited for money, Domod Roof Limited for roofing materials, VPL Concrete Limited for providing premix concrete and KBTH for providing the land for the construction.
She appealed to churches and organisations to support the construction of the project as their corporate social responsibility project, adding that they needed them to join them to make a difference in the lives of the children.
“For anybody who supports, you do have a naming right. We will name a ward or floor after you,” she said.
Ms Sarpong called on all to help raise awareness of childhood cancer, saying it is curable, but a lot closer than people thought.
“So if we all get on board and the cases come, then we would be able to assist and make a better outcome for these children,” she said.
About hostel
The Rebecca Akufo-Addo Sunshine Hostel was built by the former First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, but is managed by KBTH and Lifeline for Childhood Cancer Ghana.
It is a home for children zero to 17 years old undergoing cancer treatment, and their caregivers or guardians, until they are done with their treatment, which takes up to three years or more, and then they go back to their homes.
