Central University Library hosts reading session at Korle Bu
The Central University has climaxed its Library Week celebration with a reading session at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital’s Child Health Unit to promote literacy among young patients.
The initiative aimed to educate and empower the public by promoting a culture of reading from an early age.
Themed: “Empowering Communities Through Information Literacy,” the library week celebrations were marked with a series of literacy-focused activities, including a webinar, the inauguration of a reading club at the Kaneshie Technical Secondary School, and a reading session at the Dawhenya Basic C School near Prampram.
The climax involved visits to five wards in the Child Heath Unit, namely the First, Second and Third wards, as well as the Babies Unit, the Side Wards and the Emergency Unit.
The team, led by the acting University Librarian, Francisca Yaba Asante, read stories and offered prayers.
Also as part of the event, the team provided some refreshments for the children and donated to the unit.
Some of the items donated were bedsheets, a box of disposable syringes, two oximeters, a thermometer and toiletries.
Literacy
Mrs Asante stated the importance of fostering information literacy among the children as a lifelong skill, emphasising: "Once we imbibe the culture of reading into them, we give them a lifelong skill."
She mentioned that reading not only empowered individuals, but also had mental health benefits, calming and uplifting even those who were unwell.
The Central University Librarian noted that encouraging the young patients and their families to read both books and the Bible to find hope and strength was also part of the university’s aim of spreading the Word of God, adding "When you read, you are empowered and you go far in life."
Challenges
The Deputy Chief Nursing Officer of the Child Health OPD at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Constance Offei, who received the donation on behalf of the unit, shared some pressing challenges facing the Child Health Unit and called for support to resolve them.
She stated that facilities were under-resourced, with limited space and infrastructure compared to adult services, despite children forming a significant portion of the population.
On security, Ms Offei said incidents involving the loss of hospital property due to inadequate surveillance had been reported, and unauthorised individuals accessed the wards and offices to loot.
“Unfortunately, existing security measures are insufficient to address these issues effectively,” she stressed.
The Deputy Chief Nursing Officer of the KBTH Child Health OPD also said funding constraints, particularly for patients requiring expensive diagnostic procedures and treatments such as cancer care was another major obstacle.
“For instance, diagnosing cancer can cost between GH¢5,000 and GH¢10,000, creating financial barriers for many families who cannot afford the cost.
“There is, therefore, a pressing need for financial support to cover treatment costs and basic needs for such patients who are unable to afford their bills or medication,” she emphasised.
Ms Offei further expressed concern that there was limited collaboration and external support which made it difficult to secure partnerships that could help address these challenges.
“There's difficulty in getting people to partner us, we need funds. Funds for our patients who are not able to pay their bills or buy drugs,” she stated.
