We are two nurses from Connaught Hospital in Sierra Leone. We are grateful for the funding support provided by ReSurge Africa to enable us to travel to Korle Bu Hospital in Ghana to participate in the Post Graduate Diploma in Burns and Plastic Surgery Nursing. The Post Graduate Diploma in Burns and Plastic Surgery Nursing is a specialized training program designed to enhance the expertise of healthcare professionals in managing burn and reconstructive surgery cases. This program is collaborative between the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Burns and Plastic Surgery Centre, Interburns, and The Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit. Accredited by the Ghana Ministry of Health, the course blends in-depth theoretical knowledge with hands-on practical training, offering comprehensive preparation for those pursuing excellence in this vital area of nursing.
We face a significant burden of burn injuries at Connaught Hospital with, each year, burns accounting for around 2,600 emergency department visits and 1,200 hospital admissions. As nurses we handle the majority of the workload and face both physical and mental stress in caring for burn patients. Managing their pain, dealing with deformities, addressing their emotional and psychological needs, and upholding ethical care principles are among the most challenging aspects of our role.
Leelei expressed her enthusiasm for advancing her skills, noting, “Burn management is a critical field where innovations in techniques and knowledge can greatly improve patient outcomes. I am excited to deepen my expertise in the latest protocols, treatments, and technologies. This training will enable me to contribute more effectively to burn care, enhance patient recovery, and ultimately improve outcomes for those we serve.”
We have returned to Sierra Leone and are currently working on our dissertation, which focuses on patient management and treating burn patients. We expect to submit our work by December 2024. Abubakarr hopes that the knowledge and experience gained in caring for burn patients will enable him to provide competent and effective burn nursing care. Leelei hopes to make a “meaningful impact in the field of burn care.”
Resurge Africa extends its heartfelt thanks to Mr. Opoku Ampomah, CEO of Korle Bu and Director of Resurge Africa, Mrs. Sarfoah Ompong, the Head of the Burns Unit, and all the staff and faculty at Korle Bu Hospital. Your warm welcome and unwavering support made Abubakarr and Leelei feel valued and encouraged throughout their learning journey.
We would also like to thank our nursing colleagues from Glasgow, Lesley Orr and her husband Innes, who walked the West Highland Way in May and raised funds through our JustGiving page. If you would like to support our work at Resurge Africa, please visit our website for more ways to contribute: https://resurgeafrica.org/get-involved/donate/.
