The lack of space and equipment at the Upper East Regional Hospital’s Maternity Ward in Bolgatanga, which serves as a referral center for all the health facilities in region is hampering quality health care delivery.
The facility which delivers a baby at least every hour lacks BP apparatus, staff among others. The delivery room is also congested. The road that links the maternity ward and the OPD is also in a deplorable state.
This came to light when MTN Ghana distributed hampers to mothers who delivered on December 25th and 26th respectively at the health facility. The lack of space and equipment as described by hospital authorities means that mothers are cramped up in a small poorly ventilated room to attend to their pre-term babies daily.
Twelve deliveries were made at the Unit on December 25th and 26th. All the mothers went through normal delivery processes. The hampers contained baby dresses, cosmetics, detergents, sanitary materials, disinfectants, and teddy bears.
Speaking with Radio Ghana, a Senior Midwife in-charge of the Maternity Ward, Madam Zeinab Kadiri, commended MTN Ghana for the gesture.
She appealed to individuals and non-governmental organizations to support the maternity ward with the necessary equipment.
Madam Zeinab Kadiri also expressed worry over the unmotorable road that links the maternity ward to the OPD. The team of the hampers distributors’ next point of call was at the Navrongo War Memorial hospital in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality.
The story at the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital Maternity Ward was not different. A Senior Midwife who is in-charge of the maternity ward, Madam Clare Tasagna, said the facility is in dire need of hand-gloves among others.
The Navrongo War Memorial Hospital also recorded six deliveries on December 25th and 26th respectively.
The Upper East Regional Territory Sales Manager of MTN Ghana, Richard Asamane, said the donation was part of MTN-Ghana’s Corporate Social Responsibility and effort to make its customers smile as they celebrate the Christmas festivity.
He called on MTN’s customers across the region to make good use of the various opportunities offered to them in the region and the country at large.
The leadership of the health facilities appealed to government and non-governmental organizations to support the hospital with facilities, including Cardiotocography machines to monitor and record the foetal heart beat and uterine contractions during pregnancy.
STORY FILED BY SAMUEL AYAMMAH.
