As part of their effort in helping to control or eradicate TB from Ghana, the Aurum Institute Ghana has donated medical items valued over Ghc20,000 to two health institutions namely, Iran Clinic and Lapaz Community Hospital all in Accra to commemorate World TB Day.
This year’s theme for the World TB Day is, “Yes! We can end TB”. It is to inspire confidence and promote the commitment of key stakeholders in investing to combat the TB pandemic especially in the context of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and how collectively can bring an end to the old age disease.
TB is said to be an infectious disease that still has a catastrophic impact on the lives of many people around the world.
According to WHO, almost 28,000 people become ill with the curable and avoidable disease each day, and over 41,ooo people die from TB.
However, Aurum Institute Ghana every year commemorates World TB Day by supporting beneficiariy facilities of their interventions with commodities to enhance TB services in the facilities.
Among the medical items donated to the two private medical institutions to mark the occasion Aurum Ghana comprises; 6000 Sputum Containers, 5000 COVID-19 Antigen Test kits, 5lts of 40 gallons Liquid Soap, 48 packs of Tissue Towels, 40 pcs of disposal gowns, 2000pcs face masks (KN95), 10 Packs of Surgical Gloves, and 960pcs Face shield.
The Country Director of Aurum Institute Ghana revealed that, the institute played a leading role in the prevention of TB and the adoption of a shorter course preventive therapy called 3HP. “However, there is the need to scale up in the country to reach most of the vulnerable population who need this intervention. We need to ensure effective engagement of all stakeholders including the private sector to scale up TB Preventive Therapy to end TB”.
She therefore, appealed to donors and other institutions to increase financial commitments and investment in research towards the development of newer, more effective tools and treatments. This she indicated, can help improve patient outcomes and reduce transmission of the disease, particularly drug-resistant forms of TB.
The Medical Director of Iran Clinic, Dr. Seyed M. A. Salahatpour who received the medical items on behalf of the Clinic, thanked Management of Aurum Institute Ghana for the donation saying, they all have a common goal towards the eradication of TB.
He said, Iran Clinic and Aurum Institute Ghana have been in partnership for over 5 years to fight against TB in Ghana, and assured of his outfit’s commitment to put the items in good use.
On his part, the Head of Clinical and Operations at Lapaz Community Hospital, Dr. Allotey Addo said, the medical items donated by Aurum Institute Ghana would go a long way to help people in the community and its environs.
He therefore, thanked Aurum Institute Ghana for the continues support given to the hospital to enable them function effectively.
Madam Adelaide Sackey, Technical Officer for National TB Program also entreated people to pay much attention to chest pains, weight loss, cough etc and go for TB screening saying, the disease is curable.
Mr. Dziedzom Awalime, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager for Aurum Institute Ghana averred that, his outfit is doing everything in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and the National TB Program.
He charged people to always seek for medical attention at the hospital anytime they experiences continue coughing, instead of going to buy cough mixtures at the drug stores.
Aurum Institute Ghana is an African Public Benefit Organization whose mission is to improve the health of people and communities livingin poverty through innovation in global health research, systems, and delivery. The Aurum Institute Ghana operates in Ghana as a local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) registered under Companies Code of 1963, Acton 179 and licenced by the Social Welfare Department. It is an affiliate of Aurum Institute South Africa which is a not-for-profit company and a leading healthcare organisation.
