Academic City donates paediatric rehabilitation staircase to Ga East Hospital

Academic City University has donated a paediatric rehabilitation staircase to Ga East Municipal Hospital. The donation aims to enhance physiotherapy and rehabilitation services for children receiving treatment at the hospital. This act of kindness unfolds as health officials encourage innovators to craft affordable medical devices in collaboration with health workers.

The University's Level 400 Biomedical Engineering students undertook this project, making it a part of their academic work. Their journey commenced two years ago when they studied Medical Devices and Technologies and Rehabilitation Engineering. The students identified a clinical need - the absence of a paediatric rehabilitation staircase at Ga East Hospital - and developed a solution.

During a visit to the hospital, they observed the need for a paediatric-specific staircase, which the existing one was not designed for. The university refined the students' design, enhancing its durability and practicality. Mr Jacob Quarshie, the Coordinator of the Biomedical Engineering Department, highlighted that the project showcased the outcomes when academic learning is connected to real-world community needs.

"Our students didn't just attend lectures and take exams. They went to the hospital, listened to the clinicians, and found a problem affecting children. This staircase is the result, and we are proud to present it to the hospital," Mr Quarshie remarked. Ms Veronica Momo-Blabi, the Chief Nursing Officer at Ga East Municipal Hospital, expressed her gratitude.

She assured that the hospital would use the device immediately and maintain it well, ensuring many more children would benefit from it.