British Envoy donates equipment to Korle Bu Burns Centre

The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Iain Walker, has climaxed his cycling tour, dubbed: “Ghana Grand", with a donation to the National Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

The Ghana Grand tour was an initiative by Mr Walker to effect positive change in the areas of health, tourism and the natural environment in Ghana.

The tour involved Mr Walker embarking on a 1,000-km cross-country cycling adventure from Tumu in the Upper West Region to the Black Star Square in Accra.

Presentation

In fulfilment of his commitment to use the cycling tour to raise funds for the Burns Centre at Korle Bu, Mr Walker yesterday presented some surgical equipment to the burns clinic.

Proceeds from the tour were used to procure an examination bed for fistula surgery, two shower trolleys, which come with microbiology filters, patient monitors, micro-surgical kits and two microscopes for practising micro-surgery at the Burns Centre.

The micro-surgery laboratory has also been renovated from the proceeds.

Appreciation of Health

Presenting the equipment to the centre in Accra last Wednesday, Mr Walker said the kind gesture was in appreciation of the role the Burns Centre played in healthcare delivery, which he described as "special".

"This is not about cycling from the north to the south but it's a message we are sending, that health really matters. This is our own small way of contributing to good healthcare delivery in the country," he explained.

He commended staff of the Burns Centre for their contribution towards the delivery of quality healthcare services in the country and promised a stronger partnership between the British High Commission and the centre.

Gratitude

The Director of the centre, Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah, who received the equipment on behalf of the centre, said the presentation of the surgical equipment was timely, as the centre was in dire need of it.

He said previously, doctors had to go abroad for micro-surgery training and when they returned, the tools to work with and practise regularly were a challenge.

“In the last couple of years, we tried running the course locally but we couldn’t sustain it. This laboratory will help our trainees have regular practice and pass on the skills to our colleagues in other departments,” he said

Dr Ampomah thanked Mr Walker for the equipment and promised that it would be used for the intended purpose.

Refurbished children’s playroom

Additionally, Mr Walker cut a ribbon for the opening of the newly refurbished library and children’s playroom at the Burns Centre.

The library and children’s playroom were refurbished at a cost of over GH¢9,000 raised from the annual Christmas carols event at the High Commissioner’s residence in December last year.

The walls of the library were designed with new sets of wallpaper to make it child friendly and it was also stocked with new children’s books and a set of furniture.