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Physicians trained on principles of safe care for children
The participants
A three-day course which aims to provide physicians with refresher training in the essentials of paediatric and anaesthesia to deliver safe care to patients has taken off here.
The course emphasises the principles of safe care for children, in particular, assessment, vigilance and competence in essential skills.
About 40 physicians were selected from Ghana,The Gambia, Nigeria and Liberia.
It was organised by the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthetists(WFSA) in collaboration with Smile Train,world’s largest cleft foundation, Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland(AAGBI).
Dr. Adele Elizabeth King,Course Coordinator, in an interview, mentioned the importance of upholding International Standards for safe practices of anesthesia and paediatrics towards promoting patient safety.
According to the Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist, the International Standards had been developed on behalf of WFSA, and adherence to that would go a long way to ensure proper management of even emergency cases.
She said the training aimed at equipping participants with the essential skills and knowledge to deliver safe care to their patients, even in low-resource settings.
The participants,she said, were expected to train their colleagues in their various countries to ensure best practices in conformity with international standards.
“We want to make this training or education sustainable to ensure that the local people are able to deliver to save the local population…it is all about safe care for children”, she said.
Mrs. Nkeiruka Obi, Vice President and Regional Director,A frica of Smile Train, noted that children’s cases were bit complicated and there was the need for adequate and special care for them.
She said the course was very important because the participants would be in a better position to provide safe care for children in their various countries.
She appealed to the participants to do everything possible to train their colleagues in their respective countries.
She mentioned that by six months time, the first ever Centre of Excellence for Surgery of children with cleft lip and palate would be ready for use.
The six-storey Centre, constructed at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, would be the first of its kind in the whole of Africa to provide corrective surgery for children with cleft lip and palate.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
News
Minister of Health appeals to Tamale Teaching Hospital striking doctors
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has appealed to the striking doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) to calll off the suspension and come to the negotiation table.
However, he refused to apologise as demanded by the striking doctors.
The doctors after a meeting yesterday have withdrawn emergency services following the dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital.
This follows an unannounced visit to the hospital by the Minister on Tuesday.
The Minister made the appeal when addressing the media in Accra on Today, April 24 2025.
According to him, dialogue is the only way out to resolve the issue, adding that he was ready collaborate with them.
“I am prepared for us to come around the table and discuss whatever we need to discuss,” Mr Akandoh said.
“My humble appeal to my wonderful medical doctors and health professionals at Tamale Teaching Hospital is that I am the first person to take care of your interests. Therefore, let’s call off the strike and let’s all regroup and strategise going forward,” he concluded.
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Health Minister donates medical equipment to Tamale Teaching Hospital, pledges commitment to reforms
The Minister for Health Kwabena Miintah Akandoh has reiterated government’s commitment to address long-standing challenges in the health sector, describing the health system as one that requires urgent reform and collective responsibility.
He made these remarks during a donation of some essential medical equipment and supplies to the Tamale Teaching Hospital on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
The donation included a wide range of equipment such as ECG machines, ICU ventilators, cardiac monitors, anesthesia machines, infant incubators, and essential
Consumables amounting to about 35 items.
Among the items highlighted were
Emergency Health Equipment (EHE) sets, nebulizer sets, and medical-grade towels.
The Health Minister acknowledged the difficult working conditions health professionals continue to endure and emphasized that government efforts alone would not be enough to resolve systemic issues.
He called for unity across the health sector and urged all stakeholders, including medical doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, to work together to ensure that the country’s limited resources are used efficiently.
He noted that the wellbeing of the ordinary Ghanaian should be central to healthcare delivery, cautioning against practices that marginalize the underprivileged due to resource scarcity. According to him, every Ghanaian life is valuable, and the system must reflect that belief in both policy and practice.
Mr.Akandoh stressed that his leadership approach is rooted in humility, collaboration, and respect for all health workers. While acknowledging that change may come with challenges, he maintained that cooperation is key to achieving lasting improvements in the sector.
The Minister pleaded with health professionals in the Tamale Teaching Hospital to call off the strike and regroup to strategize on more effective ways to address their concerns through dialogue and collaboration with relevant authorities.
The donation to the Tamale Teaching Hospital forms part of a broader national initiative to modernize medical infrastructure and enhance service delivery in Ghana’s healthcare.
