Cabinet has approved $13.5 million to upgrade and expand the radiotherapy centres at the Korle-Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching hospitals in Accra and Kumasi, respectively.

The Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Sherry Ayittey, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic said another $9 million was being sourced to establish a third centre in Tamale to serve the northern part of the country and neighbouring West African countries which did not have radiotherapy facilities.

She said the projects were being undertaken in line with the government’s efforts at ensuring that cancer cases received prompt attention at the country’s two teaching hospitals.

Ghana recently acquired $13.5 million from the OPEC Fund and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa for the upgrading and expansion of the two radiotherapy centres in Accra and Kumasi.

Ms Ayittey said upgrading and expanding the two centres would enhance the care and treatment of  cancer cases in the country and ensure that cases which were hitherto referred to hospitals outside the country would now be treated locally.

She said given the complex nature of the disease, early detection was crucial for effective treatment, saying that such detection was almost impossible without the existence of the requisite equipment and trained people.

“For this reason, we are pleased with efforts at addressing challenges in these areas, particularly through the mobilisation of resources for the establishment of the infrastructure necessary for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer,” she said.

On appropriate personnel in the nuclear field, she said the availability of a talented and qualified human resource would ultimately ensure sustainability and growth in the use of both non-power and power applications of nuclear science and technology in the country.

In view of that, she said, Ghana had sought to strengthen the relevant institutions in the country.
Consequently, Ms Ayittey said, the Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences of the University of Ghana was recently audited and favourably recommended for approval and recognition as a regional designated centre for professional and higher education.

She said to further strengthen institutional capacity to support research and human resource development, the government had established a National Accelerator facility to complement the use of the country’s existing nuclear facilities.

“This and other developments in Ghana’s nuclear industry will, in the long term, require increased levels of manpower capacity in our nuclear institutions,” she said.

The minister said the government was determined to see a growth in the number of women in the nuclear industry and was, therefore, encouraging female students to pursue science courses and careers.

Tags: accra, health news, Hospitals, Komfo Anokye, Korle-Bu, kumasi, radiotherapy