A Tuberculosis (TB) Control Unit Office has been officially inaugurated at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, as part of efforts to significantly curb the spread of TB within the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and across the country.
The facility, located at the hospital’s Public Health Annex, was established through a collaborative effort between the GAF Medical Services and Mr. Prosper Kwame Appiah, founder of the P.K. Foundation.
Brigadier General Evelyn Vivian Abraham-Kwabiah, Commander of the 37 Military Hospital and Acting Deputy Chief of Staff Medical (DCOS MED), commissioned the new TB unit.
She commended Mr. Appiah and the P.K. Foundation for their instrumental role in establishing the facility, noting that it will enhance GAF’s campaign against TB by providing quality screening, diagnosis, and treatment services.
“The TB Control Unit will not only improve our ability to identify and treat cases early but also ensure patients receive quality care throughout their recovery,” Brig Gen Abraham-Kwabiah said.
Captain (GN) Harriet Manu, Officer in Charge of the hospital’s Public Health Division, expressed appreciation for the support and highlighted the importance of public health in preventing diseases, improving life expectancy, and enhancing national productivity.
“Investing in public health systems like this helps reduce overall healthcare costs and promotes a healthier, more productive population,” she stated.
She revealed that the hospital recorded 144 TB cases in the past year, with an 80 percent recovery rate.
However, she lamented that many cases are reported at advanced stages, reducing the chances of successful recovery.
In his remarks, Mr. Appiah described it as a personal honor to contribute to the fight against TB. He stressed the urgency of tackling the disease, noting that Ghana records approximately 15,000 new TB cases and 4,100 related deaths each year.
“It is heartbreaking to see lives cut short and dreams left unfulfilled because of a preventable and curable disease like TB,” Mr. Appiah said.
“This is my small contribution to a much larger battle.”
The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior officers of the 37 Military Hospital, staff of the P.K. Foundation and other key stakeholders in the health sector.
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