A Ghanaian Plastic Surgeon based in Beverly Hill, in Los Angeles, Dr Micheal Obeng, has called on Ghanaian leaders to pay attention to the healthcare needs of the populace to boost Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He said it was sad that leaders in the country “do not care so much about health care and do not realize that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.”
Dr Obeng made the call in Bolgatanga where he is leader of a team of surgeons to the Regional Hospital to conduct free surgeries on about 150 clients in dire need of various plastic and reconstructive surgeries.
He described Plastic Surgery in Ghana as “sub-standard” and expressed worry that Ghana with a population of about 25 million people had about 10 Plastic Surgeons whom he said, were doing their best under the circumstances, adding that there was the need for more Plastic Surgeons in Ghana.
Dr Obeng said “the whole country is medically under represented when it comes to plastic and reconstructive surgery,” and added that the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions were devoid of Plastic Surgeons.
The Expert in complex reconstructive surgery, used the opportunity to admonish parents, guardians and caregivers to protect children from injuries obtained from fires and burns, associated with household cooking.
He observed that most injuries on children, were from household cooking, and said parents should “be very careful when using kerosene, gas, patrol” in the presence of children.
He emphasized that children should never be left alone in kitchens, especially when cooking, insisting that they should not be exposed to dangerous areas where they could easily be injured, “we cannot not stop diseases, but accidents can be prevented,” he noted.
