The PK Appiah Foundation has handed over the Ghana Armed Forces Tuberculosis (TB) Control Unit.
The important event marks a significant milestone in the Foundation’s commitment to supporting healthcare and military wellness in Ghana.
The ceremony was held at the 37 Military Hospital and attended by facility management officials and foundation members.
Founder of the Foundation, PK Appiah, in his remarks, raised concerns about the alarming rate of new TB infections, especially among children.
He said after seeing the annual statistics of TB cases, he became alarmed since 15,000 cases are recorded annually, with 1,500 being children and 4,100 deaths also recorded.
Mr Appiah indicated that this was a challenge because it has deprived Ghana of the opportunity for these individuals to help society with their skills and experience.
The philanthropist posited that it was upon this that the PK Appiah Foundation found it important to wage war against this culprit called TB.
According to him, when it came to light that there was a need to establish this facility, ‘’we saw it as a privilege to contribute our quota to the development of our nation’’.
He commended the team at the 37 Military Hospital for their dedication, particularly Captain Harriet Menu, a naval commander and OIC public health division at the hospital.
On her part, Brigadier General Evelyn Vivian Abraham-Kwabiah, Commander of the 37 Military Hospital, expressed gratitude to the PK Appiah Foundation for the kind gesture, and like Oliver Twist, she said the GAF looks forward to more collaborations in the future.
She said TB, which is a preventable and curable disease, affects millions worldwide, particularly in resource-limited countries, including Ghana.
The Commander stated that the GAF Health Services, in contributing to health outcomes, is dedicated to reducing the burden of this disease among its personnel and the general populace.
It is therefore with great pleasure and gratitude that I commend the PK Appiah Foundation for generously funding the construction of the TB Control Office. His gesture is clearly an extension of their philanthropic activities towards the promotion of preventive healthcare. The successful construction of the office presents a significant step forward in our collective fight against TB. This office will provide critical services including screening, diagnosing, treatment, and counselling. It will also avail to affected persons a dignified environment that would ensure the provision of quality care and support needed for smooth recovery,’’ she added.
A citation was also presented to Captain Harriet Manu for playing a pivotal role towards the establishment of the TB Unit and also her contribution towards care given to TB patients.
The Military Hospital also presented a plaque to Mr. Appiah in appreciation for his support.
Meanwhile, Captain Manu admonished the Ghanaian public to understand that TB was not scary, as early detection and diagnosis can lead to treatment.
She also commended the Foundation for supporting the facility with the unit, stressing that public health, which includes the management of TB cases, was crucial.
The senior military officer added that the military hospital, which used to serve military personnel and their families, is no longer the case because it now also serves as a facility for civilians.
She called on corporate Ghana, philanthropists, and others to collaborate with the hospital in providing holistic care for patients who come to the hospital for medical care.
According to her, the unit recorded about 144 cases with over 80 per cent recovery recorded.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
