Coronavirus: KBTH Child Health Unit receives PPE

World Child Cancer has donated GHC 100,000 worth of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other medical consumables to the Department of Child Health of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) to protect health workers against the Coronavirus pandemic.

The items, which were donated with funding support from the Department For International Development (DFID) and UBS Optimus Foundation included; Pulse oximeter, disposable protective gowns, Nitrile gloves, sterile gloves, shoe covers, surgical caps, face mask N95/FFP2, gauze, and cotton wool.

The rest were, blood pressure apparatus, digital thermometers, autoclave machine, disposable bed sheet, liquid, parazone, hand sanitizers, tissue, goggles, gun thermometers, Glucostrips-one touch select, syringes and needles-5cc, syringes and needles-2cc, Methylated spirit (95), Artery forceps, Infusion pump, and vein finder.

Some of the items donated would be conveyed to the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

Mrs Serwaa Owusu-Ansah, the Programme Coordinator World Child Cancer, who presented the items, said children are the future of the country and the donation was to ensure that those who are providing care to them are well protected in this era of COVID-19.

This, she said, would augment government efforts to support COVID-19 response in the country.

Prof Lorna Awo Renner, the Head of Pediatric Oncology Unit, receiving the donation on behalf of the Department, expressed gratitude to the NGO for the gesture.

This would go a long way to protect health workers and enable them deliver quality service to children particularly those with cancer who visit the facility, she said.

“We look forward for a long collaboration as this would help prevent the spread of the disease among children who are vulnerable,” she said.

Prof Renner said COVID-19 has gotten the attention of many people even across the globe but there are other diseases such as cancer, malaria, TB among others and urged Ghanaians to take note of these and also protect themselves as such.

She advised parents to report children to the hospital should they detect changes in them for early treatment.

Prof Renner said the hospital has put in place measures to prevent the spread of the disease among women whose children are on admission.

“We have also implemented full preventive measures, observing social distancing, hand washing, the use of sanitizer. All these seek to minimize contact with the children,” she said.

She urged mothers to stay at home to prevent exposing their children unnecessarily to people who are infected and only go out if need be but advised them to use face mask to protect themselves.

World Child Cancer is a Non-Governmental charity organization was established in 2007 and is aimed at improving access to diagnosis, supportive palliative and potentially curative care for children with cancer around the world.