By Kodjo
Adams, GNA
Accra, Sept. 12, GNA – Little Angels Trust, a
Children’s Charity Organisation, on Wednesday inaugurated a playground for
patients of the Accra Psychiatric Children’s Ward.
Christened “Respite Centre,” it comprises a
serene environment with artificial green grass and play games to serve as
entertainment and relaxation dais for the children.
It was funded by the Ghanaman Community
Reinvestment Grant Trust, Ghana, and St Mark’s Church Kennington Oval London,
United Kingdom.
Dame Lavinia Enim, the Founder of the Trust,
said the Trust mooted the idea to construct the playground during its yearly
donation to the Ward and saw the need for the patients to have a playground to
aid their recovery process.
She said the gesture was necessary because of
the organisation’s deep passion for helping children with life-threatening
illnesses like cancer as well as patients of the Psychiatric Children’s
Ward in Ghana and UK.
She stated that the playground would form part
of the children’s wellbeing and aid their healing process.
Dame Enim said the organisation works
primarily by raising funds to support families to pay for cancer treatments,
adding; “Over the years, “we have built a strong relationship with the Korle-Bu
Teaching Hospital and have supported patients and their families pay for
treatments”.
She said the organisation provided periodic
relief and social activities at the Cancer Ward of the Korle-Bu Teaching
Hospital through donations and special events.
Dame Enim called for public support for
underprivileged children in the society, especially children who are terminally
ill, because they believe that “a strong nation relies on healthy children”.
She expressed worry about the stress she had
to go through before breaking ground for the commencement of the playground and
appealed to the authorities to reduce the bureaucracy when organisations extend
support to the Hospital.
Dr Pinaman Appaw, the Director in charge of
the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, thanked the organisation for the gesture and
said it would give hope to the patients.
She apologised for any challenges that
hindered the delay in commencement of the work adding that the Hospital was
ready for any support.
Dr Appaw pledged to maintain the facility and
appealed to the public to go to their aid to complement government’s effort in
providing quality healthcare to the citizenry.
GNA