The Department of Child Health of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) has received GH¢100,000 in support towards the establishment of the first digital pain-free Venipuncture Suite at the hospital’s Paediatric Oncology Unit.

The support, provided by the KPMG Alumni, will enable the hospital to begin developing the facility to ease the experience of children undergoing cancer treatment and other medical procedures that often involve repeated and painful needle sticks.

When completed, the facility will use digital distraction technologies and pain-reducing clinical tools to minimise the fear, anxiety and pain that young cancer patients experience during frequent needle procedures.

With a start-up cost of GH¢200,000 and an annual maintenance cost of GH¢25,000, the project will provide a fully equipped suite with virtual reality sets, video games, local anaesthetic creams, ultrasound guidance, infrared vein finders, patient monitors and other tools designed to distract patients, reduce anxiety and ease the pain associated with medical procedures for children.

In an interview with the media after the presentation of the dummy cheque at the hospital premises in Accra yesterday, a paediatric oncologist at KBTH, Dr Lily Gloria Tagoe, said the suite was conceived by the department head of child health, who identified the need for a dedicated space to make repeated medical procedures less distressing for children, particularly those with cancer and other chronic conditions.

She said the facility would use virtual reality sets and video games to distract children during procedures, while local anaesthetic creams, ultrasound guidance and near-infrared vein finders would help to reduce pain and minimise repeated needle sticks.

“The suite would also have an ergonomic couch and a multiparametric patient monitor to ensure that children remained comfortable and safe throughout procedures,” she said.

Dr Tagoe said the facility was expected to be the first of its kind at the hospital and would benefit not only children with cancer but also other children with chronic conditions who required frequent medical procedures.

“We are really grateful to KPMG for taking this step to help us make this dream a reality,” she added.

The Partner and Head of Corporate Affairs at KPMG, Joycelyn Coleman, said the KPMG Alumni spearheaded the fundraising initiative after identifying the need for a pain-free venipuncture unit at the Paediatric Oncology Department.

She said the GH¢100,000 donation represented proceeds from a sponsored walk organised by the alumni and supported by KPMG to help reduce the pain and discomfort children experienced during repeated medical procedures.

Ms Coleman said KPMG remained committed to supporting the project, with the alumni still collecting pledges from the sponsored walk to make another donation once the funds were consolidated.

She said KPMG would focus its support on paediatric oncology for the time being to ensure the initiative made a meaningful impact before considering other areas of child health.

The Coordinator of the KPMG Alumni, Patience Mawushie Dzikunoo, said the association comprised former employees of KPMG from various departments and service areas.

She added that the fundraising drive remained ongoing, with the alumni committed to mobilising additional funds and presenting them to the hospital as they were collected.