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Stephen Essoun Foundation donates to Shai Osudoku District Hospital to mark World Sickle Cell Day

The Stephen Essoun Foundation has donated an amount of GH¢10,000 for a range of essential medical supplies to the Shai Osudoku District Hospital in the Greater Accra Region in commemoration of this year’s World Sickle Cell Day.

The donation, made on Thursday, June 19, was to support the care of sickle cell patients at the facility. The gesture forms part of the Foundation’s broader agenda to improve healthcare delivery, particularly for vulnerable groups and underserved communities.

Speaking at the event, founder Stephen Yaw Essoun, a platinum donor of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), emphasised the need for sustained public education and practical support for individuals living with sickle cell disease. “This is not just a ceremonial occasion. It is a call to action for all of us to raise awareness and provide assistance to those who endure the physical and emotional toll of this condition,” he said.

Sickle cell disease affects approximately 15,000 babies born in Ghana each year, according to estimates by the Ghana Health Service. The prevalence rate remains particularly high among certain ethnic groups, with as many as one in four Ghanaians carrying the sickle cell trait.

Hospital authorities received the items with appreciation, noting that such support is critical to delivering quality care. “We are grateful for the timely intervention by the Stephen Essoun Foundation. These supplies will go a long way in helping us maintain a clean and dignified environment for our patients,” a senior medical officer at the facility said.

Established in 2018, the Stephen Essoun Foundation has funded over 300 scholarship placements and a series of health-focused community initiatives across the Central, Eastern, and Greater Accra Regions. In 2023, the Foundation was recognised by the West Africa Healthcare Excellence Awards for its contributions to healthcare advocacy and philanthropy.

The recent donation aligns with the global campaign by the World Health Organization to reduce stigma, improve diagnostics, and expand access to treatment for sickle cell disease, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the disease burden remains among the highest globally.

Mr. Essoun further reaffirmed his commitment to building partnerships across the health and education sectors to address long standing inequalities in access and infrastructure.“We must not relent. Every life saved and every opportunity created is a step forward for the community,” he added.

Access Bank marks world sickle cell day with nationwide blood donation drive

In a powerful show of solidarity and social impact, Access Bank Holdings, the parent company of Access Bank (Ghana) PLC, has launched a coordinated blood donation drive across all its operating countries.

The initiative is part of the bank’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts and commemorates World Sickle Cell Day.

In Ghana, the bank teamed up with the National Blood Service-Greater Accra Regional Blood Centre to host a heartfelt donation campaign that brought together staff, customers, and members of the public. Volunteers rolled up their sleeves to support sickle cell patients and others facing life-threatening conditions requiring blood transfusions.

Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Managing Director of Access Bank Ghana, Olumide Olatunji, said the bank is committed to helping the health delivery system in the country.

“This is more than a campaign. It is a lifeline. By organising this blood donation drive, we are not only saving lives but also reaffirming our commitment to creating a lasting, positive impact in the communities we serve. At Access Bank, we believe in advancing Africa—not just in the future, but right now—through bold, necessary initiatives like this,” he said.

On his part, Head of Corporate Communications & Brand Management Edward Nelson-Addy said the drive was as much about awareness as it was about action.

“We understand the emotional and physical toll that sickle cell disease takes on families across Ghana. This initiative allowed us to stand in the gap, creating hope where it’s needed most. It’s the kind of purpose-driven work that defines who we are—not just as a bank, but as a committed community partner.”

In continuation of its strategic intent to be a leading sustainability-focused Bank and build a healthy Africa, Access Bank continues to invest in the communities it operates in, delivering superior value to customers and other stakeholders. These investments, together with its sustainability commitment to impact lives now and in the future, have earned Access Bank enviable industry awards and recognitions, including the 2024 Best ESG Bank in Ghana by Euromoney and Most Innovative Bank for Community Engagement in 2023.

Mpox crisis: 71% of cases concentrated in Western Region

Alarming figures reveal that the Western Region now accounts for a staggering 71% of all confirmed Monkeypox infections nationwide.

This came to light at the Western Regional Development Retreat in Essipong on Saturday, June 21.

Kwadwo Okyere Apenteng, the Chief Pharmacist of the Western Regional Health Directorate, speaking on behalf of the Regional Health Director, underscored the severity of the situation.

He disclosed that the region documented its initial Monkeypox case on May 23 in Tarkwa, marking the beginning of an escalating outbreak.

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“Monkeypox is also in the country, and currently, the Western Region is number one; we have taken over. 71% of the cases in the country are coming from the Western Region. As it stands, we have 187 suspected cases and 43 confirmed cases,” Mr Apenteng stated, highlighting the dramatic shift in the geographical distribution of the disease within Ghana.

While Ghana recorded its first Mpox (Monkeypox) cases in October 2024, the rapid concentration in the Western Region, with a population of over 2 million people (2021 Census data), presents a unique challenge for public health officials.

In response to this critical situation, the Directorate has immediately activated its public health emergency response system.

This includes intensified surveillance efforts to track potential new cases and their contacts, alongside a robust public education campaign aimed at informing residents about prevention, symptoms, and reporting mechanisms.

This aligns with Ghana’s broader National Health Security agenda, bolstered by initiatives like the recently launched $16.3 million Pandemic Fund Project, which focuses on strengthening disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, and health workforce readiness.

The current Monkeypox outbreak has also cast a harsh light on the state of healthcare infrastructure in the Western Region.

Addressing the same retreat, Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson voiced pressing concerns about stalled healthcare projects, particularly the much-needed upgrade of the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital.

The hospital’s redevelopment has been a subject of public discourse for several years, with previous reports from early 2025 indicating assurances from a new government to continue the project.

However, the Regional Minister’s recent remarks suggest persistent delays.

“Our regional hospital in Effia Nkwanta is undergoing some revamping, but as we speak, the work is stalled. I pray that, very soon, work will resume so that we can complete it for the very purpose for which that project was started,” Mr Nelson lamented.

The completion of this vital regional referral facility is deemed crucial for enhancing the region’s capacity to manage not only current outbreaks like Monkeypox but also future health crises.

Recognising the severity of the situation and the critical need for improved health infrastructure, Minister Nelson extended an appeal to the Western Regional House of Chiefs.

He urged their esteemed traditional leaders to lend their considerable influence to advocacy efforts aimed at accelerating the upgrading of key health facilities throughout the region.

This collaborative approach seeks to fortify the Western Region’s preparedness and response capabilities, safeguarding the health of its citizens against emerging infectious diseases.

UHAS hosts cancer care stakeholder engagement with American Cancer Society Support  

The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) has undertaken a stakeholder engagement and cancer care improvement workshop at the University’s main campus, Sokode-Lokoe, in Ho.   

The event was organised with the support of the American Cancer Society Global Academy, in collaboration with the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH) Technical Working Group, as part of the Global Healthcare Provider Support Grant initiative.  

The workshop brought together medical professionals, administrators, pharmacists, nurses and researchers to discuss practical strategies to enhance cancer care and strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration within the Ho Teaching Hospital.  

Professor Lydia Aziato, Vice Chancellor of UHAS, in her remarks, encouraged participants to engage partners and collaborate actively for research works, emphasising that the future of academia was tied to impactful research and meaningful collaborations.   

She advocated continuous innovation, team efforts and knowledge sharing among healthcare practitioners to improve patient care outcomes.   

“We make history together; we make impact together. So long as I remain the Vice Chancellor, we will continue to facilitate collaborations across departments to serve our patients better,” she said.  

The Director of Medical Affairs at HTH, Dr. Emmanuel Senyo Kasu, gave a comprehensive overview of cancer management at the facility and mentioned that many people in the Volta Region remain unaware of cancer and its symptoms, which contributes to late diagnosis and limited treatment outcomes.   

He stressed the importance of awareness creation and early screening as part of effective management of cancers.  

Speaking on the crucial role of data, Director of Research, Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at the hospital, Mr. Simon Dzokoto, discussed how cancer registries help in tracking incidence, treatments and outcomes. He underscored the registries value in enabling better planning, policy-making and resource allocation.  

Dr. Koku Amegan-Aho, Project Lead and Head of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at UHAS School of Medicine, provided an update on the American Cancer Society grant and outlined key interventions under the project.   

He called for comprehensive education on chemotherapy safety, adding that baseline assessments had already started.   

He said, as part of ongoing efforts, a dedicated session on chemotherapy safety was scheduled for September, 2025.   

He added that HTH had acquired a safety cabinet and planned to roll out educational posters, e-learning materials and training videos for staff.   

He also said plans were underway to launch a specialized mobile application to guide pharmacists in drug selection and safe administration protocols.  

On his part, the Quality Manager at HTH, Mr. Samuel Ahiah, emphasized the need to treat patients with dignity and equity.   

He called for respectful and clear communication, advocating patients’ involvement in all decision-making processes regarding their care.    

Mr. Frederick Nyaho, a Palliative Care Nurse Specialist, who made a presentation on ‘Challenges of Pain Management in Cancer Care,’ said patients often struggled to describe their pain accurately and many hold misconceptions about the use of opioids (pain relievers).   

He said these challenges accounted for the suffering of excruciating pain by patients after chemotherapy sessions.   

He called for increased education for both patients and healthcare providers.  

A Pharmacist at HTH, Dr. James Appiah Adu Yeboah, made a presentation on the Chemosafe Initiative, underscoring the importance of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when handling chemotherapy drugs.   

He said the safety of healthcare providers was equally as important as protecting patients.  

Dr. Nelson Afram, a Senior Surgeon at HTH, who co-moderated a panel discussion during the stakeholder engagement, was officially introduced as the Chairperson for the newly established Multidisciplinary Tumor Board at the Ho Teaching Hospital.   

The Board is expected to enhance coordinated cancer care by bringing together experts from various specialties to develop comprehensive treatment plans for patients.  

The workshop marked another step in UHAS’ commitment to fostering research-driven healthcare delivery through strong institutional partnerships and multidisciplinary collaborations.