Sickle cell survivor donates to Korle-Bu unit

By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo

Accra, June 23, GNA – Reverend King Foli, a sickle cell disease survivor, and Resident Pastor of Royal House Holy Ghost Temple, has donated medical equipment and consumables to the Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to support care of sickle cell patients. 

The donation, made to mark his 55^th birthday, included hospital beds, air conditioners, stretchers, toiletries and other consumable items. 

Rev Foli, who has lived with sickle cell disease for more than five decades, said the gesture was an expression of gratitude to God for preserving his life and a demonstration of support for patients battling the condition. 

Recent studies from high-resource countries estimate the average life expectancy of people living with sickle cell disease to be between 52 and 54 years, although advances in healthcare have enabled many patients to live into their sixties and beyond. 

Rev Foli said his survival was a testament to God’s grace, proper medical care and the dedication of healthcare professionals who continue to support sickle cell patients. 

He urged individuals, organisations and philanthropists to support sickle cell advocacy and contribute towards improving healthcare services for persons living with the disease. 

Madam Joycelyn Ansah Dunya, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, receiving the items on behalf of the Institute, commended Rev. Foli, his family and the Royal House Holy Ghost Temple for their continuous advocacy and support for sickle cell patients. 

She described the donation as timely and beneficial to the facility’s operations. 

Madam Dunya, however, highlighted the challenges facing the institute, particularly the lack of an inpatient ward to provide continuous care for patients requiring admission. 

She explained that the facility currently operates as a day clinic and closes after working hours, making it necessary to transfer patients who require admission to other wards within the hospital. 

“This place is a day clinic. We operate from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. If a patient comes and requires admission, we have to look for a bed elsewhere because we do not run a 24-hour service,’ she said. 

She appealed to corporate organisations, philanthropists and benevolent individuals to support the construction of a dedicated ward that would enable the institute to provide round-the-clock care for sickle cell patients. 

“What we are asking for is support to build a ward or facility that can operate 24 hours so that our patients can stay here comfortably until discharge,” Madam Dunya added. 

GNA 

Edited by Benjamin Mensah 

Reporter: Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA 

Reporter’s email: [email protected]