During his visit to see musician KK Fosu after a tragic accident, Kwaku Manu shared his admiration for the facility in a social media video on May 31, 2024.
He praised the serene and modern environment, likening it to hospitals abroad rather than typical Ghanaian ones.
The UGMC, with its 650-bed capacity, was commissioned in 2017 but faced delays in becoming operational due to disputes over management.
Watch video below:
Kwaku Manu lauds Mahama for building UGMC#tigpost UPSA | Afronita and Abigail | Prophet Suddenly | Awaakye | Ursula Owusu | Efia | Labadi Beach Hotel | pic.twitter.com/dOph746rY0
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, has delivered a charitable donation on behalf of Second Lady, Samira Bawumia to the veteran Ghanaian music legend, KK Kabobo, who is currently battling liver disease.
The undisclosed amount was presented during Okraku-Mantey’s visit to KK Kabobo at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in Accra.
KK Kabobo’s family expressed deep gratitude for the compassionate gesture from Mrs. Bawumia, acknowledging the significant impact of her support during this challenging time. Despite facing health challenges, KK Kabobo took a moment to appreciate the overwhelming support from loved ones, family, and friends in the media.
In response to the outpouring of concern, KK Kabobo urged Ghanaians to keep him in their thoughts and prayers as he navigates the path to recovery.
The initiative to assist KK Kabobo gained momentum after broadcaster Barima Kaakyire Agyemang highlighted his situation on Facebook on February 26, triggering widespread solidarity from industry players, fans, and well-wishers.
A total of twenty-seven children diagnosed with congenital heart defects have undergone successful procedures at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) utilizing a minimally invasive technique known as cardiac catheterization.
Medical professionals, in conjunction with the Qatar Charity, carried out these interventions.
Cardiac catheterization involves the insertion of a slender, flexible tube referred to as a catheter through a blood vessel, guiding it to the heart to address specific cardiac conditions like blocked arteries or irregular heart rhythms.
The Country Director for Qatar Charity, Hasan A. Owda, in an interview stated that an additional three children are scheduled to undergo similar procedures in the near future.
“To date, we have completed 27 cases, and tomorrow we will conclude 30 cases involving children. This initiative serves as a pilot project, and in the days ahead, we aspire to expand our efforts. Collaborating with leadership, agencies, and stakeholders, we will explore avenues to extend our reach, targeting more children across various categories,” remarked the Qatar Charity’s Country Director.
Coordinator of the project, Professor Nana Akyaa Yao, who is a Consultant Pediatric and Congenital Cardiologist, emphasized the significance of the collaboration as a valuable opportunity to assist children afflicted with congenital heart conditions.
“Upon seeking support, Qatar Charity approached me with the intention to aid children dealing with cardiac issues, employing the minimally invasive approach of cardiac catheterization. This collaboration provided an excellent opportunity to support these children in a manner that involves minimal surgical intervention,” explained the Consultant Pediatric and Congenital Cardiologist.
A free CPR and first aid training for select commercial transport drivers was organized by the Jadarls Foundation, a company in the Jadarls Group of Businesses, in the La-Nkwantanang Municipality of Accra.
The purpose of the training was to prepare the drivers to recognize cardiac, respiratory, and first aid emergencies and to know what to do in those situations until more sophisticated medical assistance could be provided.
Several driver unions from the municipality came together for the workshops, which were held at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC). Participants received instruction in basic life support techniques, including as high-quality CPR, post-cardiac arrest, prevention, and rehabilitation.
The drivers were also given first aid kits, pendrives, among other educational souvenirs to aid them to control accident cases that occur while working, and to also create awareness among other drivers and passengers.
Training
The Programme Lead of Jadarls Foundation, Davida Pappoe, said it had been observed that most accident victims died or incurred more injury due to the improper handling of victims or how care was administered.
The foundation, she said, had seen the need to train individuals, especially the drivers who mostly experienced accidents, to properly administer primary care to victims when such situations occurred.
“Most drivers do not know how to care for the injured; all they know is pulling the injured person out of the car, and this causes more injury or death.
So these sessions are to educate them on how to go about things like this,” she said.
She said the foundation intended to train 65 drivers in the first quarter with over 2,000 drivers to be trained by the end of the year given th intended multiplier effect of the trainer of trainees programme.
Ms Pappoe further stated that monitoring would be done by representatives from UGMC to ensure that the right training was given to the drivers, and where there were shortfalls refresher sessions would be held.
Primary Care
The Deputy Director for Medical Training and Simulation Center at UGMC, Dr Akosua Nuamah, explained that CPR and first aid were important because they could save lives under certain conditions.
“I believe this is the first hand training we all need as it creates awareness on the right steps to take in case of accident to keep the victims alive and prevent a lot of deaths,” she said.
Dr Nuamah further called on the public to desist from taking pictures or videos when accidents happen, but to instead call for medical help.
Initiative
The Chairman of the AMOT Transport Union, Mohammed Riddah Abubakar, commended the foundation for the initiative to build the capacity of the drivers in the municipality in CPR and first aid.
The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) is the first institution in Africa to have the newest medical imaging technology installed.
The equipment, known as Nanox.ARC, enhances the early detection of medical conditions that are discoverable by imaging technology based on X-rays.
It had been described as a working prototype of the next-generation digital X-ray technology in the field of medical imaging procedures that produces unique clinical value.
The UGMC has also established a new radiology learning centre to train healthcare professionals from across Africa on the use of Nanox.ARC.
The initiative was in partnership with Forte Medical Limited, a Group Addo affiliate company that specialises in the distribution of cutting-edge medical imaging technology locally and across Africa, and was facilitated by the Israel Economic and Trade Mission to the country.
Significance
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the UGMC, Dr Darius Osei, said the training was critical because it was new to the healthcare delivery sector.
“And the UGMC is proud to be part of this ground-breaking event. With its advanced cold cathode technology, the Nanox.ARC is capable of producing high-quality medical images with unprecedented speed and accuracy, leading to improved diagnosis and treatment of patients.
“This technology is being deployed for the first time in Africa, and we strongly believe its deployment will play a role in making the country the hub of medical tourism in Africa and beyond.
“We also believe that this partnership with Forte Medical will help UGMC continue to make a difference in the lives of not only our patients but patients across Africa,” Dr Osei added.
Shlomit Sufa (2nd from left), the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, cutting the ribbon for the launch of the training centre. Assisting her are Dr Darius Osei (right), CEO of University of Ghana Medical Centre, and other dignitaries. Picture: ERNEST KODZI
Payment schedule
The CEO of Forte Medical, Nana Addo, said the UGMC would not be paying for the facility in cash.
According to him, the equipment would be managed under a pay-per-scan arrangement until it had recovered its cost and handed over permanently to the health facility.
“The vision of Nanox is to increase the early detection of medical conditions that are discoverable by medical imaging technologies based on X-ray, by improving access to imaging, reducing imaging costs and enhancing imaging efficiency, which is key to increasing early prevention and treatment, improving health outcomes, and ultimately saving lives.
“Nanox is developing a holistic imaging solution, which includes the Nanox System, and is comprised of Nanox.ARC using its novel MEMs X-ray source technology,” he said.
Mission
The Head of Israel Economic and Trade Mission, Yaniv Tessel, said the mission had the responsibility to facilitate partnerships between Ghanaian and Israeli businesses for mutual benefits.
He said health care was one of the priority sectors of the mission, citing the deployment of the Nanox as an addition to the many Israeli technologies adopted locally to support healthcare delivery, adding “this is one of the many success stories as we promote economic and trade relations between Israel and Ghana”.
Prior to the interment, the late musician will be laid in state for viewing and filing past on Friday, October 7, 2022, also at the forecourt of the State House.
The remains of the king of highlife will be taken to his hometown at Obo Kwahu in the Eastern Region on Saturday, October 8, 2022, for interment.
Nana Kwame Ampadu passed on at the age of 76 on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, after he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in Accra.
On Thursday, November 11, 2021, Nana Akufo-Addo, announced his decision to honour the late legendary Ghanaian highlife musician, Nana Kwame Ampadu, with a state-assisted burial for his contribution to the growth of the Ghanaian music industry.
The Director of Communications for the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, made the announcement during a Jubilee House Press briefing.
Nana Ampadu was one time President of MUSIGA and was also the leader of the African Brothers Band, formed in 1963.
The legendary highlife musician has been credited with several popular highlife tracks.
He is known to have composed over 800 songs.
He came to prominence in 1967 when he released his song Ebi Te Yie (“Some Are Well Seated”), a song that was seen as critical of the then-governing National Liberation Council (NLC) which toppled Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah.
The song disappeared from the airwaves, only returning after the end of military rule.
In 1973, he won a nationwide competition in Ghana and was crowned the “Adwontofoohene,” or King of Singers.
