Health experts and burn survivors have renewed calls for stronger government support to make burns treatment and rehabilitation more affordable and accessible in Ghana.
According to them, the cost of burns care, which is often between GH¢30,000 and GH¢40,000, remains out of reach for many patients.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s World Burns Week in Accra, themed “From Burns to Recovery: Prevention is Key,” the group highlighted that burns remain among the most devastating yet preventable injuries.
The event was organised in collaboration with Beyond Burns International, an organisation committed to supporting burn survivors through prevention awareness, rehabilitation and advocacy, and the National Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at the KBTH, Sarfoah Ompong shared her personal experience, emphasising the importance of prevention and the need for government and public support for survivors.
Ms Ofori urged the National Health Insurance Scheme to include burns management in its coverage, and called for training and outreach support to help survivors educate others about prevention in their communities.
The Deputy Director of Safety at the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Mr Michael Ato Korsah, said burns remained one of the most serious yet avoidable causes of injury and death across the world.
He said although many incidents occurred in homes, schools, and workplaces, they could be prevented through simple safety measures such as maintaining electrical wiring, using safe cooking practices, and supervising children closely.
He urged the public to become ambassadors of burns prevention, emphasising that “prevention is everyone’s responsibility.”
The Deputy Chief Physiotherapist at the KBTH, Ms Alberta Emissah Nyarko in her address said awareness creation and survivor inclusion were key to reducing cases and improving the quality of recovery.
Having worked in burns rehabilitation for more than two decades, she said the conversation around burns should not be limited to hospitals but extended to communities and schools where prevention could make the greatest impact.
According to her, survivors’voices must be amplified to inspire others and change public perceptions. “It doesn’t make sense when I, as a professional, tell you about burns pain or scars. But when survivors speak, their voices carry power they prove that burns are survivable and recovery is possible,” she said.
Ms Nyarko noted that Ghana had made progress in awareness and training through collaborations among the National Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre, the Ghana National Fire Service, and Beyond Burns International.
These, she said, had led to capacity building for health professionals and community sensitisation across regions including Tamale, Cape Coast and Ho.
She called for more investment in burns care and prevention infrastructure, stressing that “partnership is the best way forward” in expanding the country’s reach in treatment and awareness.
This year’s World Burns Week focuses on global awareness, prevention strategies, and the empowerment of survivors to lead change in their communities.
By Stephanie Birikorang
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