members of the foundation demonstrating how to administer CPR to a victim. INSERT: Prof. Frimpong Boateng
GHANA NEEDS 12 more heart centres in order to fully cover the population adequately as far as heart surgery is concerned, Professor Frimpong Boateng has said.
The former head of the Cardio centre of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), said according to World Health Organization recommendations, a country should perform 400 open-heart surgical operations per million people.
“This means that for Ghana with a population of about 24 million, we should be performing about 9,600 open heart operations per year,” he said.
He said the actual figure for Ghana is less than 200 open heart surgeries per a year and noted the country needs 12 more centres to make the desired impact of covering its population.
Prof. Boateng made this statement when he launched the rebranding of the Ghana Heart Foundation at the KAMA conference centre in Accra.
The GHF was established by Prof Boateng in 1989 to advance knowledge of the heart and circulation, coordinate activities of individuals engaged in heart disease research and support further training of medical personnel in the care of individuals with heart disease.
The rebranding was to meet the needs of the growing population and situate the foundation in concert with modernity and best practices.
The foundation, as part of its rebranding activities has introduced a new website and e-mail address, letterhead, slogan and logogram. It has also established a new office at No. 10 Otoo Street, Mother’s Inn, Accra.
The foundation also introduced its new executive council members and trustees of the GHFTrust Fund.
Prof. Boateng said the foundation will train emergency medical technicians who will be deployed in all districts to teach the populace how to handle simple medical emergency situations.
Should any person suffer cardiac arrest or a heart attack people around him should have an idea about what to do to help the victim.
“It is our hope that most Ghanaians above the age of six years will be able to do Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR),” he said.
Dr. Ahmed Nuhu Zakariah, Director of the National Ambulance Service, also reiterated the need for everyone to undergo some CPR training.
He said even though a number of people are CPR trained many are reluctant to administer the procedure for fear of doing it wrong.
Dr. Zakariah said a victim’s chance for survival is greatest if CPR is started as soon as the medical emergency occurs as it is to provide critical body organs with oxygen-rich blood.
By Jamila Akweley OkertchiriÂ
