Pediatric nurse and childhood cancer advocate, Akua Sarpong
Pediatric nurse and childhood cancer advocate Akua Sarpong is calling on individuals, businesses, and faith-based organizations to support the construction of a 48-bed pediatric cancer care facility at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
Sarpong, who also serves as executive director of Lifeline for Childhood Cancer Ghana, made the appeal during an art auction fundraiser held at the Mercedes-Benz CFAO Showroom. The event, themed “Little Hands, Big Dreams,” showcased children’s art to raise funds for pediatric cancer care.
Sharing her personal journey in an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb, Sarpong revealed that she lost her child to cancer years ago, an experience that inspired the formation of the Lifeline Foundation.
The foundation is now the official partner of the Pediatric Oncology Unit at Korle Bu, raising funds for diagnostics, treatment, nutrition, and skills development programs for mothers.
Currently, the Pediatric Oncology Unit at Korle Bu has only 24 beds. The new three-storey, 48-bed facility aims to significantly improve survival rates for children with cancer by providing comprehensive, dedicated care.
“Our work is not finished. We’ve started the construction of this big, ambitious treatment centre for children with cancer. And this is important because our children don’t have a lot of hope. And it’s important that if we want to ensure that our survival rate goes up,” she explained.
The project is estimated to cost $1.6 million, but only $458,000 has been raised so far.
“Although we have four cancers on the National Health Insurance. But we all know the challenge with National Health Insurance, we’re not getting the access and cancer treatment is still out of pocket for parents, and that’s why we do what we do to ensure that these kids live,” Sarpong said.
She added that she and her team remain committed to their vision, stating “We won’t stop until no child in Ghana dies from cancer.”
ID/EB