This would facilitate the production of more orthopedic doctors as the West African country with a population of about 30 million could boast of only 50 orthopedic surgeons.

Currently, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, 37 Military Hospital and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital train orthopedic surgeons for the country, churning out only four surgeons in a year.

Dr Odei-Ansong made the call during a training session for about 35 journalists in Kumasi on how to report on trauma and orthopedic cases in the country.

The reporters came from Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions to partake the workshop organized by OA Alliance in collaboration with Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons.

It formed part of efforts to create awareness on pediatric trauma and fractures in the country and to achieve the overall goal of the pediatric fracture solutions for the Ghana project.

The Project seeks to reduce disability, morbidity and mortality from pediatric musculoskeletal trauma through prevention, education and by improving clinical care provided by health workers and caregivers.

Dr Odei-Ansong said four orthopedic surgeons are produced in Ghana annually, saying about five people enrolled for the programme this year.

The Upper West Region, with a population of about 800,000 has only one orthopedic surgeon working at the Saint Theresa’s Hospital in Nandom while Ashanti Region with about four million people have eight orthopedic surgeons and Greater Accra has 26.

The Northern region has four orthopedic surgeons while the Upper East Region also has one.

Dr Odei-Ansong said the situation was responsible for the widening gap in terms of universal access to trauma and orthopedic care.

Health experts say 60 per cent of trauma cases in Ghana occur through road crashes but most of the victims resort to seeking health care from traditional bone setters as they are unable to get the needed services from hospitals.