The establishment of the Rebecca Akufo-Addo PICU at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) some four years ago, has tremendously improved child health care. The centre has saved the lives of over 56 per cent of children who visited the facility within the period. KBTH authorities said the lives of about 79 children had been saved because they were able to access quality emergency services at the facility while over 700 neonates and children under 12 years have been cared for within the last four years The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of KBTH, established under Mrs Akufo-Addo's Rebecca Foundation, upon the request of the management of the hospital in 2019, currently provide emergency care for children under 12 with the majority needing ventilators to help them survive. The PICU was constructed with state-of-the-art building technology and fitted with the latest equipment to ensure efficient health delivery in a friendly and comfortable working environment. It has a clinical laboratory, clinical p harmacy and office, main reception with staff rest area, staff training and meeting rooms and changing rooms all fitted with disability-friendly toilet and bathing facilities. The facility has its own fully furnished changing rooms, resting rooms, and ablution facilities with showers, offices, and consultation rooms, among others. The revelation became known when Mrs Akufo-Addo and her Guyana counterpart, Mrs Arya Ali, visited the PICU to assess operations there. Madam Ali was in the country with her husband, President Irfaan Ali, who was on a state visit to Ghana. Mrs Akufo-Addo, together with Mrs Ali, visited the PICU and the Sunshine Hostel, which houses children with cancer and their guardians as they receive care and treatment. Mrs Akufo-Addo assisted in constructing the Hostel too. Dr Frank Owusu Sekyere, Director Medical Affairs, KBTH, who together with Professor Christabel Enweronu-Laryea, Head of Child Health Care, KBTH, took the two first ladies round the facility, and gave updates about the o perations there. Dr Owusu Sekyere said the Department of Child Health did not have an Intensive Care Unit, so they were happy that the first lady came in to establish the PICU, which has a very high dependency unit and an Intensive care unit that offers ventilating support services for the children. He said, 'At least, at the last count, 147 children were put on the ventilator out of which 79 children survived and 'walked freely from this facility.' 'Previously, four years ago, we could have recorded all 147 mortalities. Prof Enweronu-Laryea, on her part, said that since the place opened in 2019, there had been good results with many children passing through the facility and becoming well again. Prof Awo Renner, Head of the Paediatric Oncology Unit, KBTH, who took the two first ladies around the Sunshine Hostel, said the facility hosts more than 30 children and their guardians at a time and that over 200 children and their parents have so far stayed at the facility since its construction. The facility h ad helped reduce the treatment abandonment rate from over 40 per cent to less than 15 per cent. 'And that translates into improved outcomes, and better survival rate as well,' she said. Prof Renner said there was also an improvement to indirect social cost to the family, adding that 'parents do not have to think of where they are going to stay, their transportation and even feeding; and that also help curb abandonment.' The mothers too are taking through beads craft as income generating so that when they go back home, they would be able to get something to rely on, she said. She said both the children with cancer and their guardians are fed daily for free. This hostel is the envy in Africa and globally. I boast about it wherever I go for a conference, and they are amazed at the input of the First Lady.' The facility has been invaluable to us, she emphasized. 'The hospital has actually made a huge impact in the quality of care for cancer patients.' The naming of the ultra-modern PICU after Mrs Akufo-Ad do, according to the authorities of the KBTH, was in appreciation of the many lives her benevolence would 'save as well as her continued love and dedication to the health needs of children and mothers.' According to the hospital authorities, the Child Health Department was a referral point, which received cases from across Ghana and the sub-region, with most cases requiring intensive care. The increasing patient numbers received, as against the Department space, made admission challenging and compromised the quality of care. Meanwhile, Mrs Akufo-Addo said the purpose of their visit was to assess the current conditions of the facilities since they were built and commissioned for use. The First Lady and Mrs. Ali toured the facilities and donated air conditioners to the PICU and some food and other consumables to the Sunshine Hostel. Source: Ghana News Agency The Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI) in collaboration with the County Government of Busia, has launched indoor residual spraying (IRS) to reduce malaria prevalence in the County. Speaking to the press after the official launch of the exercise, Ismail Abey of the National Malaria Control Program said that the prevalence of Malaria in Busia, was still high at 39 percent currently. 'There is no other County that has malaria prevalence than Busia, hence, the reason why we have come here to reduce this burden of malaria,' Abey said. Abey added that the initiative will be implemented alongside other methods of malaria prevention, including mass distribution of the long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets, which is slated for March this year. 'The mass distribution of mosquito nets is currently ongoing in 22 counties, but we have delayed one for Busia, because we want to implement the IRS first,' he said. Busia Chief Officer for Health, Susan Outa, thanked President William Ruto, for mobilizing the required resources to ensure that the County benefits from the malaria control intervention. 'I also want to thank the PMI Kinga Malariateam, who will be with us to conduct the first to the third round, to help us in this exercise,' she said. Outa further said that the team of those who will be carrying out the exercise has already been trained and community health promoters, are also engaged in the mobilization exercise. She assured that the insecticide that is being used to curb the malaria menace, was safe to the target groups, including mothers and young children. 'I want to urge the residents to embrace this initiative,' she said, adding that the County stands a chance of benefiting from it. The Chief Officer at the same time said that other malaria intervention initiatives, will also continue to be implemented. 'We are having malaria vaccines for the under two-year-olds, the mass net distribution that has been here periodically and the case management with medication,' she said, adding that the Co mmunity Health Promoters will also continue with health education. Dr. Outa further urged security agencies to be on the lookout for those who might take advantage of the exercise to steal from the unsuspecting residents. 'We are confident that the exercise is being carried out by people who are trained,' she said, adding that the drug is safe, and the health facilities are ready to handle any emergencies. Indoor Residual Spraying has been carried out in Homa Bay County leading to the reduction of malaria prevalence from 27 percent to 3 percent. Source: Kenya News Agency
