Expert arrives for Burns Conference

Accra, July 28, GNA - Mr Stuart Watson, a Consultant Plastic and Burns Surgeon at the Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Scotland has arrived in the country for a three-day conference on burns injuries.

Under the theme; "Prevention and Management of Burns in Ghana - Are We Doing it right?," the conference, slated from July 28-30, seeks to throw light on all issues that have to do with fire outbreaks, ranging from outright prevention to the right way of dealing with victims of burns.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport, Mr. Watson expressed the hope that the conference would help create a stronger awareness of the dangers of burns in the country and in effect, take the issue of serious burns to a higher level.

Dr Opoku Ware Ampomah, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre, Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, who is also chairman of the organising committee of the conference, said considering the terrible nature of injuries that occur as a result of burns, a lot of education was needed on the prevention of fire outbreaks.

He said the increasing use of electricity and gas made had fire outbreaks easily possible, adding that, considering the high cost of treating burns and the damage that is often caused by fire outbreaks, it was very important to create a lot of awareness on how best to prevent these outbreaks. Dr Opoku Ware noted that, whilst it was important to have adequate resources in the country to deal with burns victims, there was also the need to ensure that people were well educated on how best to prevent fire outbreaks. The conference is expected to be attended by over 500 delegates consisting of doctors, physiotherapists, first aid workers, personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service and other stakeholders. The conference, which coincides with the inauguration of the Ghana Burns Society, is being organised by the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre, Korle bu Teaching Hospital.