Why Ghana?

Since 1957, Ghana has been a democratic progressive society that is considered the gateway to West Africa. Peaceful for many decades, English speaking, favoured by the G8 nations, Ghana is proving to be a leader in the region and continent.

When there is so much HIV/AIDS, malaria, water-borne diseases and TB permeating the continent, why are you focusing on neuroscience?

Isn’t that too sophisticated a service for a continent struggling to survive communicable diseases?

Like much of the ‘developing’ world, communicable diseases are a fact of life in Sub-Saharan Africa. Fortunately in Ghana, the AIDS pandemic has affected a relatively low 3.8% of the population to date (2003 data). With a transitional economy, Ghana (pop. 21 million) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region (pop. 275 million) recognize the significant impact of non-communicable diseases on the population.

The regional Governments are beginning to pay attention to the incidence and prevalence of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and illnesses affecting the nervous system (such as stroke, epilepsy, trauma, tumors, brain and spinal abscesses, meningitis and the all too common degenerative spinal conditions, and congenital illness, to name a few) which combined, debilitate their young and otherwise productive citizens. At the Korle-Bu Hospital, about 10% of all admissions (2003 data) are for conditions affecting the nervous system. We recognize that these figures represent only the ”tip of the iceberg”, as many patients are not captured due to local misdiagnosis and non-referral to the tertiary centre. A very basic neuroscience service already exists at Korle-Bu Hospital but is in need of support for further program development at all levels.

Why Korle-Bu Hospital?

Korle-Bu Hospital provides the support network and resources that are necessary to ensure that comprehensive acute care is administered. For example, if a neuroscience patient requires urgent cardiac or orthopaedic intervention, the support is within the complex and specialty care can be administered in a timely fashion. Also, because head and spinal injured patients will likely make up a large portion of the patient population within our facility, it is critical that this centre is adjacent to the tertiary trauma centre for the country, which resides at Korle-Bu. The goal is to develop our national center for neuroscience at Korle-Bu, and once this has been established, consideration of satellite centres within the region will be a priority.

Why are you doing this?

We care. We are our brother’s keeper and we are passionate about making this world a better place. Neuroscience is our expertise and we believe that we can make a difference for those in this hurting continent that have little to no opportunity of receiving preventative interventional or proactive neuroscience care. For example:
An individual can receive their sight back and return to a full life through the complete resection of a pituitary tumour.
A baby born with spina bifida can have expert reconstruction of their spinal cord with the potential of walking some day.
A stroke victim can receive interventional support and return to their home cognitively and physically intact.
A spinal injured individual can be stabilized and given the greatest potential for recovery
That’s our goal.

What is the total cost?

The Korle-Bu Neuroscience Centre of Excellence project budget has been prepared in conjunction with BYT quantity survey consultants. Building costs for the Hospital, Nurses and Paramedicals Residence and Visiting Consultants Residence will be $62.25 million (Can $). Education and Training costs are estimated to be $1.06 million (Can $). The total project budget is $63,810,000 (Can $).

How are you doing this?

As this exciting project is taking off, interest has been created in Canada, the United States, Africa and beyond. Fundraising strategies like "One in a Million" have been developed to raise a majority of the funds here in North America. Imagine, if one million people gave $63.80 each, our goal of $63.8 million would be achieved and countless lives in West Africa would prosper. Other ways to participate, like the Founders' Wall, where your name will be inscribed to a decorative brick for a gift of $1000$ (Can) is another way to help.

How do you intend to service members of society that have limited financial resources?

We feel that a balance will be required between those that can afford the service provided, which in turn will assist in subsidizing those that are unable to afford full remuneration for their care. As our team focuses on operational sustainability, we believe that revenue generation is critical to the long tern success of the Centre.

Is ICT (Information Computer Technology) planned for in this Centre?

Absolutely! As Don Jenion, a member of our building team and expert health care planner stated, “We wouldn't build the Centre without it.” We will ensure that our construction incorporates this potential within its structure. President Kufour has identified ICT as a priority for Ghana. We will work together to ensure this becomes a reality in our service provisions. As computer technology and accessibility develops, we anticipate in the years ahead that international consultation will become a norm in providing specialty care for acutely ill patients.

How do you intend to ensure that this Centre of Excellence is fiscally solvent long term?

"Based on the projected workload, and the projected expenditures and revenues, the Korle-Bu Neuroscience Centre can be operationally sustainable after its opening in 2009. The positive revenue stream is expected to continue as KBNCE becomes the finest Neuroscience Centre in West Africa." - Don Jenion, P. Eng. (Chair) Preliminary Sustainability Task Force

Do you intend to support this Centre of Excellence indefinitely?

While we are committed to providing support however it is needed in the years ahead, we anticipate that our success will be realized when the Ghanaian people eventually take full ownership of this Centre. Our Ghanaian and Canadian organizational structure embraces collaborative relations. The only difference in our relationship is that the Canadian Foundation is providing much needed resources, otherwise we perceive ourselves as equals. Consequently, we anticipate financial independence as our mutually developed, fiscally accountable plan is adopted and refined.