K’Bu children’s emergency ward closed

Accra, Jan. 28, GNA - Management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has closed down the Children’s Emergency ward indefinitely.

A statement signed by Mr Mustapha Salifu, Head of Public Relations at the hospital, copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on Saturday, explained that the action was a result of the outbreak of bacterial infection known as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). It said five children on admission at the ward were diagnosed with the MRSA, and the authorities were screening both patients and staff there to ensure that they were free of the infection.

The statement said the MRSA had not spread to other parts of the Hospital and that “The closure is to enable the hospital to clean and disinfect the ward to rid it of the bacteria. The re-opening of the ward will be announced as soon as the problem is solved”. It asked people who would require pediatric emergency services to call at other hospitals centres within the Accra Metropolis.

The statement advised other health facilities to stop referring patients with MRSA to the ward.

It said: “Our Consultants would be available to provide telephonic consultations to colleagues in other hospitals , who may need their assistance on: 0307060114, 0307060177 or 0307060142.”