A BRIGHTER WARD, A LIGHTER HEART: ACCRA LABONE ROTARY TRANSFORMS NSAWAM GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL PAEDIATRIC WARD
For over a decade, the December visit by the Rotary Club of Accra Labone to the Paediatric Ward at Nsawam Government Hospital has been a dedicated tradition of care. Each year, members arrive with essential supplies—diapers, medications, nutritional supplements—and, more importantly, gifts of time and attention, bringing moments of joy to young patients facing illness. It is a commitment rooted in compassion, a promise renewed with each Rotary year.
This December, however, the children and staff of the ward welcomed a transformation that touched not just their immediate needs, but the very atmosphere in which recovery takes place. The Club, under the leadership of President Kuukua Twum-Baah, expanded its vision. Recognising that environment is a silent partner in recovery, they embarked on a project to turn the clinical ward into a more welcoming, comforting, and therapeutic space.
Gone were the dull, uniform walls. In their place, a fresh, clean coat of paint served as a canvas for a burst of colour and cheer. Local artists, guided by the Rotary’s vision, brought the walls to life with vibrant, child-friendly cartoon artwork. Playful animals, serene landscapes, and characters from beloved stories now welcomed wide-eyed children, offering visual escapes and gentle distractions from their hospital routines. The space was no longer just a ward; it was becoming a sanctuary.
But the Club’s holistic approach did not end with aesthetics. Recognising the crucial link between hygiene and health, they made a generous donation of cleaning detergents to support the hospital’s infection control protocols. And for those long hours of recovery, a new 43-inch television was installed, offering entertainment, education, and a comforting connection to the world outside the hospital walls.
The official presentation was a moment of shared pride and profound gratitude. Rotarian President Kuukua Twum-Baah, on behalf of the Club, handed the items to Dr. Richard Letsa, the Clinical Care Coordinator of the hospital. In his remarks, Dr. Letsa’s appreciation was heartfelt and personal. He commended the Rotary Club of Accra Labone not only for this important intervention but also for its “sustained support over the years,” a partnership he described as invaluable.
“This intervention goes beyond material donation,” Dr. Letsa stated. “You have considered the psychological and emotional well-being of our children. This brighter, kinder environment, coupled with the tools for hygiene and comfort, will significantly improve patient care and the overall healing experience. You have given us a ward that heals the spirit as well as the body.”
With an investment of approximately GHS 13,000, firmly rooted in Rotary’s Areas of Focus on Disease Prevention and Treatment and Maternal and Child Health, the project stands as a testament to what targeted, compassionate service can accomplish. The beneficiaries, the vulnerable paediatric patients and the dedicated staff caring for them—now move through their days in a space infused with hope, dignity, and a touch more light.
The Rotary Club of Accra Labone’s journey to Nsawam remains a story of consistency, but this chapter reminds us that even long-standing commitments can take on new dimensions. They have offered a powerful lesson: that sometimes, healing begins with a splash of colour and the simple, profound act of making a space feel truly cared for.
