Burns survivors appeal for review of policy

The Ghana Burns Survivors Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has appealed to the Management of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to review its policy requiring people who had suffered burns to provide their own gauze for treatment.

Mr Denis Opoku Gyamfi, its President, said this was preventing many from receiving emergency treatment at the facility.

The cost of an average size gauze is put at Ghc50.00.

He said it was deeply worrying and more disheartening to see wounds of some of the victims festering badly because of their economic situation.

The poor finds it difficult to pay for the daily dressing of their wounds, and this has resulted in a situation where the Burns Unit of the hospital is engulfed in overpowering stench, posing a health hazard to the health workers, patients and visitors.

Mr Gyamfi, therefore, pleaded with the government to include the treatment of burns and dressing of wounds in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).