Model of Urology Centre unveiled
Accra, Dec 14, Ghanadot/GNA - A seven-million dollar fund to
establish a National Urology Centre was on Friday launched
in Accra with a call on Ghanaians to support the work to
help alleviate the pain and suffering of the people.
The centre would also be in memory of Professor J.M.K
Quartey, Dr Isaac Bentsi and Dr Benjamin Osei-Wiafe all of
them urologists who died in a motor accident while on duty
in August 2005.
The Centre to be sited between the Korle-Bu Polyclinic and
the Fevers Unit would offer urology service, train health
personnel as well as serve as a research centre would take
three years to be built.
Dr. (Mrs) Gladys Ashitey, Deputy Minister of Health who
unveiled the model (Centre) bemoaned the current situation
where less than 15 urologists were serving a country of over
20 million people.
She said, "clinical urology problems would continue to rise.
It is therefore important for us to make extraordinary
efforts to deal with the present inadequacies and anticipate
the future".
Dr Ashitey said such a centre should be able to provide
early diagnosis and treatment, effective operative surgical
services and delivering a comprehensive range of established
treatment options.
She also pledged the government's support to the centre and
proposed the establishment of an Association of Urological
Surgeons that would have a common voice, share the burden
and facilities and support the research movement in urology
in Ghana.
Dr Benjamin Annan, Acting Chief Executive of the Hospital
expressed the hope that the work would start in six months
time.
He said with initial seed money of about 400 million cedis,
something could be started soon and called upon corporate
bodies to donate towards the project.
Professor Edward Donkor Yeboah, President of West Africa
College of Health Scientists said the urology unit currently
situated at the surgical department of the hospital was in
bad shape with only one major and minor theatres.
Out of 1500 to 2000 new cases reported each year, over 200
to 250 major elective were cancelled while only three to
five major elective cases and 10 to 20 minor elective cases
were operated upon per week.
He therefore stressed the need for all to support in the
establishment of the Centre to save the many men who keep
suffering from prostate problem, erectile dysfunction,
impotence, male infertility and other cancers.
GNA
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