Ho, June 16, GNA - The Margaret Marquart Catholic Hospital at Kpando and the Akron Children's Hospital in Ohio, USA, have entered into an exchange programme to share experiences among their medical specialists. The programme was the outcome of efforts of Rev Fr Patrick Alala, a Ghanaian Chaplain at the Akron Children's Hospital and Dr Kuklui Gavua, Medical Superintendent at the Margaret Marquart Hospital.

Dr Gavua told the Ghana News Agency that three specialist doctors and four nurses from the Akron Children's Hospital are already at Kpando, assisting their Ghanaian counterparts in emergency operations on children. He said the team made an advance donation of a quantity of surgical equipment to the hospital, while awaiting the arrival of a container of more equipment.

The team leader Dr. Dan McMahon told the GNA that the team's visit would enable members to understand the healthcare system at the Margaret Marquart Hospital and how that could be integrated into that of Akron Children's Hospital. Dr McMahon said he was happy with the confidence with which medical personnel at the Margaret Marquart Hospital approached their work, despite the limitations they faced. He said there was the need to improve on the equipment situation at the hospital.

Dr McMahon said the team was impressed with the little it had experienced of the social system in the country. ''The atmosphere is devoid of suspicion and fear to the extent that children trust everybody and relate well with foreigners, which is alien in my country.'' He said he was optimistic that the programme would afford more of his compatriots the opportunity to get to know and understand the Ghanaians.