Cancer patients across Ghana are facing a dire situation following the malfunction of the only cancer treatment machine at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. A report by MyJoyOnline reveals that numerous patients who visited the premier health facility were left disappointed and without treatment as the machine undergoes repairs.

The report captures the distress of a breast cancer patient referred from the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC). "I began my treatment journey about two years ago for breast cancer at the University of Ghana Medical Centre. After surgery at UGMC and a recurrence, I was referred to Korle Bu for chemotherapy and radiation therapy," Sandra shared with JoyNews via phone.

"I was scheduled to start treatment at Korle Bu, but upon arrival, I was informed the machine had broken down. That was a month ago. I managed to receive treatment last Thursday and Friday, and I was supposed to continue daily for 16 days. However, this has become a major challenge.

"Today marks one week, and I've only completed two sessions. As I speak, I am returning from Korle Bu, where the machine has broken down again. I couldn’t receive my treatment. I’m not just speaking for myself; there are many women in the queue waiting."

This alarming situation, which severely impacts Ghana’s healthcare system, was confirmed by Professor Joel Yarney, Head of the Oncology Department at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, who provided further insights.

He revealed that the country has only two such machines, with the second one located at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi. "We used to handle just a few cases daily, but now we are seeing a rise in cancer cases, and the resources are inadequate. We are now managing up to 60 cases per day, and this kind of pressure on a single machine will inevitably cause it to break down," Prof. Yarney explained to JoyNews.

The high cost of repairing and maintaining these machines exacerbates the issue, further complicating the healthcare challenge in Ghana.

Source by www.ghanaweb.com