Beyond Burns International is leading the burn awareness campaign in Ghana

In a pioneering initiative in global health, Beyond Burns International (BBI), led by Executive Director Judith Cato Addison, has announced Ghana’s active participation in the inaugural World Burns week.

This global campaign brings together organizations dedicated to burn care, public health, advocacy and survivor support with the goal of raising awareness of burns as a critical global health priority.

The week-long event will highlight the urgent need for equitable burn prevention, access to quality care and comprehensive support for survivors, regardless of location, income, gender or age.

World Burn Week brings together health leaders and advocacy groups to emphasize that burns are preventable and survivors deserve timely and compassionate care.

Over the past decade, significant advances have been made in burn care, community support, and amplifying the voices of survivors. This collective dedication has now turned into a global initiative that aims to prevent burns and ensure effective treatment and rehabilitation for survivors.

Judith Cato Addison expressed the BBI’s commitment to the campaign: “We are delighted to support World Burns Week and engage with local and global partners in burn care promotion, advocacy and survivor empowerment. This inaugural event symbolizes a brighter future for burn prevention and an effort to provide the necessary support to all those affected by burns.”

As part of the Ghana engagement, Ms Addison will speak about the state of burn care in the country, highlighting the experience of a local survivor and the ongoing challenges in Ghana’s healthcare system. In addition to partnering with international stakeholders such as the Burns Cure Foundation in New Delhi, BBI collaborates with key local institutions including the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Education Service and leading burns care hospitals across the country.

BBI’s direct support efforts enabled four burn survivors in Ghana to receive essential medical treatment. The organization is currently dedicated to helping a sixteen-year-old girl who requires reconstructive surgery and physiotherapy after suffering severe burns. However, BBI faces significant financial challenges in securing adequate funding for continuing care. “We are calling on individuals, organizations and corporations to join us in creating a world where burns are preventable and access to effective care is equitable,” said Ms Addison.

Burns are often misunderstood or stigmatized, especially in Ghana. To address this, BBI prioritized public awareness as a crucial tool for change.

The organization focuses on educating the public about the causes of burns, promoting preventive measures, advocating for comprehensive medical coverage for burn injuries, and promoting better equipped and adequately staffed medical facilities. BBI also aims to encourage community acceptance of burn survivors by providing them with financial support to aid their journey to recovery and reintegration.

The BBI’s vision for World Burn Week extends beyond the event itself. The organization hopes to foster a continuous campaign for change that will generate collaborations across all sectors in Ghana and beyond. “This campaign is just the beginning,” Ms Addison said. “We look forward to working with various stakeholders to make World Burn Week a sustainable force for change and hope in the world of burn care.”

World Burn Week emphasizes a critical mission: raising awareness, advocating for effective care and supporting survivors in their recovery. For many in Ghana and around the world, the launch of this initiative marks a new era of hope and resilience.

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