News
Twenty-two patients receive free GH¢2 million heart procedures at Korle Bu Cardio Centre
Twenty-two patients with severe heart rhythm disorders have received life-saving cardiac device procedures worth about GH¢2 million through a partnership between the Mount Carmel Foundation, the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCTC) at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCares) and Africa World Airlines.
The procedures were carried out during a five-day medical mission by a team of specialists from Ghana and the United States.
Speaking at a debriefing session after the mission, the Director of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, Dr. Kow Entsua-Mensah, said the success of the programme was made possible through teamwork involving cardiac surgeons, cardiologist-electrophysiologists, anaesthesiologists, nurses, radiographers, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists and other support staff.
He explained that the close collaboration among the different teams enabled them to manage the complex procedures safely, adding that all 22 patients recovered well and were ready to be discharged by the end of the mission.
Dr. Entsua-Mensah said the partnership between the Ghanaian and American medical teams would continue beyond the outreach programme.
According to him, the collaboration will not only provide specialised treatment for patients but also strengthen local expertise through training and knowledge sharing to improve advanced cardiac care in Ghana.
He also assured patients who were unable to undergo the procedures during the mission that they would still receive treatment at the Cardio Centre when they are ready.
One of the beneficiaries, Juliet Asabea Awuku, who was living with heart failure caused by peripartum cardiomyopathy, said the successful Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) device procedure had given her a new chance at life.
She expressed gratitude to the medical teams from Ghana and the United States for the support, saying the financial relief from the intervention had lifted a huge burden from her family.
“My family and I are profoundly grateful to the dedicated local medical team here in Ghana, as well as the diaspora specialists who travelled to support us. May God richly bless you all for your gift of health and hope,” she said.
The team lead from the Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Kamel Addo, said the mission focused on providing advanced procedures, including Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT), Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) and left bundle branch area pacing for patients with severe heart rhythm abnormalities who could not afford such treatment.
He praised the staff of the National Cardiothoracic Centre for their discipline, professionalism and teamwork, saying their commitment made it possible to complete all the procedures within the five-day period.
Dr. Addo added that support from the Mount Carmel Foundation helped reduce the cost of the devices and procedures, making specialised cardiac care accessible to patients who would otherwise have been unable to pay for the treatment.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Management and staff of Owass FM have announced the passing of media personality, comedian and politician Seth Kwame Dzokoto following a medical emergency during a live morning show discussion at the station earlier today.
According to the station, Dzokoto was participating in a panel discussion on its morning show “Oman Nkoso” when he suddenly took ill and collapsed.
A statement from the station said its team immediately rushed him to the hospital for medical attention, but he was pronounced dead by the attending medical doctor upon arrival.
“We are deeply saddened by this unfortunate incident, which occurred in the course of our regular programming. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones, colleagues, and all those who have been affected by his passing,” the statement said.
Management acknowledged that information about the incident is already circulating in the public domain, but appealed to the public and colleague media houses to respect the privacy of the bereaved family and refrain from circulating unverified information or speculation regarding the circumstances of his death.
Owass FM extended its heartfelt condolences to the family of Seth Kwame Dzokoto.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The State through the Attorney General (AG) has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the suspension of the trial in the case of The Republic v Hanan Aludiba and Faiza Seidu.
On Monday, the Court of Appeal suspended the trial in the case. But the prosecution says it has filed an appeal against the suspension order.
According to the update, the law does not allow a criminal trial to be suspended simply because an accused person has complained about some of the charges on the charge sheet, particularly when those complaints were dismissed as meritless.
It argues that if the Court of Appeal’s decision is allowed to stand, no prosecution will ever be possible, since all it would take for a trial to be suspended is an accused person complaining about anything on the charge sheet.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
