A US-based Ghanaian PhD student, Maame Abena Agyeiwaa Adjei, who previously suffered severe burns from a gas explosion and recovered at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital’s National Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre, has given back to the facility by donating food items and cash.

Through her charity, AJ’s Smiling Heart Foundation, Maame Abena has been supporting the unit annually every March as part of her birthday celebrations for the past 12 years.

Presenting the donation on behalf of Maame Abena, Josephine Akua Asmah assured the patients that their conditions would not be permanent, sharing the donor’s personal experience of recovery.

“Maame Abena suffered the same fate and has recovered. She is now pursuing her PhD in the United States of America,” she encouraged.

The donated items included bags of water, toilet rolls, diapers, soaps, fruits, drinks, a commode, and a cash donation to support the patients.

Ellen Sarpong, a senior nursing officer at the unit who received the donation on behalf of the patients, expressed gratitude on behalf of management.



“About 28 patients will benefit from this donation. The soaps, diapers, and other essentials will greatly help in maintaining their personal hygiene,” she said.



Jemima Mashud, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the unit, emphasized the need for motivation among staff due to the challenging nature of their work.



“The staff needs to be motivated; their job is not easy,” she stated.



She also urged the public to take safety precautions to prevent burn cases.

“When cooking, children should be kept at a safe distance to avoid such accidents,” she advised.

Some of the patients who received the donation expressed heartfelt appreciation to Maame Abena and her team for their kindness and support.