The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, on Saturday visited the Neurosurgery Ward of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) to check on young patients receiving specialised treatment, including two teenagers whose cases required urgent government intervention.
The visit followed directives from President John Dramani Mahama after the plight of the children was brought to the attention of the Ministry.
One of the patients, 17-year-old Yao John Jibonu from Jasikan in the Oti Region, suffered a severe cervical spinal cord injury when a log he and his friends were carrying from the farm accidentally fell on his neck. Initially treated at the Jasikan Municipal Hospital, he was later transferred to TTH where doctors diagnosed a spinal cord lesion caused by bone compression.
The family’s inability to fund the required surgery prompted the hospital to contact the Department of Social Welfare. Through swift coordination, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Ghana Exim Bank provided the necessary financial support, enabling surgeons to successfully operate on Yao. Doctors say he is now recovering steadily, with significant improvement in his initial symptoms.
Dr Abdul Aziz Mahama, a Neurosurgeon at TTH, confirmed the success of the procedure, stating that the teenager is responding well to treatment and many of the paralytic symptoms have markedly reduced.
The Minister also checked on another young patient, referred to as “Little Yaw”, whose case had earlier been flagged to the Ministry. Financial assistance for his treatment was similarly secured through the NHIA and Exim Bank.
During the visit, Dr Naa Momo Lartey commended the TTH management and neurosurgical team for their dedication, noting that cases that initially appeared hopeless were now showing encouraging signs of recovery.
She further announced that Exim Bank has agreed to cover the full medical expenses of yet another child in the ward battling a severe brain injury.
While interacting with staff and patients, the Minister assessed other critically ill children who may require additional social protection support and assured the hospital of the Ministry’s continued collaboration to address such cases.
Dr Naa Momo Lartey expressed profound gratitude to the hospital administration and medical staff for what she described as “excellent care and strong patient management” that has given the children a new lease of life.