Two patients at the National Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) are in need of an amount of GH?35,000 to cater for their treatment after sustaining high degrees of burns.
Although their families have catered for their bills, the support has not been enough leaving the patient’s survival to their fate.
Michael Nartey, a nine-year-old boy, who got burnt in an oil being used to fry ‘Koose’ or (Spicy beans cake) had been admitted in the centre for three weeks and needs about GH?15,000 to survive.
Even though doctors indicated he was responding to treatment, his situation was severe such that it needed much attention and care.
Explaining her ordeal, the Mother of the boy, Mercy Aboagye said that, “Three weeks ago, on a Saturday morning, I gave him and his brother GH?2 to buy ‘koko’. While I waited for them, I had a call that he had fallen into the oil. I rushed to the scene and when I asked him, he said he felt dizzy and fell into the oil which was being used to fry the koose after he was served.”
Meanwhile, she also made it known that the father of the children was irresponsible while she sold ice water for a living.
Miss Mercy then appealed to the public for funds to help cater for the hospital bills and the meals that were prescribed for the boy.
Lordina Abable Mensah, a Nurse in charge of Michael, also explained that most of the medicine used to cater for his dressing were expensive, and that his mother could not afford all.
“Sometimes the drugs we need to give to him are expensive and his mother is unable to provide the money for us to get them. Today for instance we needed to bath him but because we do not have the medicine for his dressing, we haven’t bathed him yet,” she said.
Second burnt Patient
At the same unit, A 42-year-old Farmer, Kweku Alhassan who had also been admitted at the Centre for three months two weeks after being burnt on his farm also appealed for support from the public since his family could no longer support hm.
According to his son, who just completed Senior High School, Clement Alhassan Loveson, Mr Alhassan was burnt while the fuel from his Chainsaw machine at his farm splashed on his body and after which the machine caught fire.
Doctor
Meanwhile, a Senior Resident at the burns unit of the National Reconstructive plastic surgery and burns centre, Dr Nathaniel Tetteh also said that both patients sustained what he described as third class burns that affected their skin.
He made it known that the drugs which were needed for treatment and dressing, as well as their prescribed meals were expensive such that the families of the patients could not afford it all the time.
The situation, he said sometimes deterred them from delivering the services needed for the patients to recover faster than they were doing.
“The drugs we use for them, even for dressing, their blood and others are very expensive, and the longer it takes to raise the funds for treatment, the longer they stay here. This could prolong their ailment and if it happens this way it may affect their life,” he said.
He disclosed that Alhassan for now he needs an estimated amount of GH?15-20,000 while Michael Nartey also needs GH?15,000, calling on the public to render support to both patients.
Precaution
For his part, the Director National Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre, Opoku Ware Ampomah also cautioned parents to take precautionary measures to prevent their children from such accidents.
According to him, about 300,000 burns were recorded yearly worldwide, stating that out of the number, 95 per cent of mortality cases were recorded out of the burns cases.
He underscored the need for governments to invest in the education of fire, in order to reduce the mortality rates recorded out of burns.
“If we have the right investment in education it will help prevent a lot of burns cases. Most people go through the normal formal education but do not know anything about fire. Burns is a big problem and we have to be more conscious,” he added.
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Source: atinkaonline.com
