Cape coast: The Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (GMTF), Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, has urged health professionals nationwide to collaborate in advancing the Fund's mission of providing essential medical care to Ghanaians in need. On her visit to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Darko-Opoku emphasized the Fund's dedication to long-term service, contingent on the commitment and advocacy of health workers across the country.
According to Ghana Web, during Darko-Opoku's visit, the Fund provided support to five critically ill patients as part of its ongoing 50-case pilot programme. The beneficiaries included a one-year-old girl and a five-month-old infant, both diagnosed with hydrocephalus, who received funding for ventriculo-peritoneal shunt surgeries and post-operative care. Additionally, a 50-year-old woman with right temporal meningioma, a 25-year-old facing a recurrent parasagittal frontal tumour, and a 12-year-old boy with a scalp tumour extending intracranially were supported.
These patients, hailing from the Western, Western North, and Central Regions, received a total of GHS258,200 to cover their treatment costs. Darko-Opoku highlighted the importance of the Fund, stating, "The Ghana Medical Trust Fund exists to ensure that chronic and life-threatening illnesses are no longer a financial burden. Saving lives is our mission. Reducing the suffering of families and giving hope is our goal."
She called upon health workers to act as ambassadors of the Fund, stressing the importance of community engagement and advocacy to reach more patients and sustain the Fund's operations. Dr Stephen Laryea, Medical Director of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, expressed gratitude for the support and pledged the hospital's full cooperation, acknowledging the life-saving impact of the initiative.
The 50-case pilot programme has already assisted 35 patients nationwide, aiming to reach 50, each case representing a family relieved, a life restored, and a step towards strengthening national healthcare capacity.