Nsawam Hospital: MP donates ¢50,000 for new maternity block construction

The MP Frank Annoh-Dompreh presented the cheque

The Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has presented a ¢50,000 cheque to management of the Nsawam Government Hospital for the construction of a new maternity block.

This comes after a Joy News story exposing the dire conditions mothers and their newborn children endure at the facility that delivers a baby every 90 minutes.

Pre-term babies suffer worse conditions at the facility. Joy News’ Komla Adom who reported on the situation discovered that, these babies who are to receive special care are placed on tables and in cases of drawers at the facility, due to the lack of adequate baby cots and incubators.

At the time of Komla’s visit, the Hospital had only two functioning incubators.

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.

Sweating profusely and hoping that their children do not catch any diseases at the facility, the mothers pleaded for authorities to come to their aid and change the situation.

Moved by the state of the maternity ward, which he described as a “near crisis,” Mr Annoh-Dompreh intervened.

He said he was compelled to make the move because although the funds are 90 percent of his Peace Health Fund, “this involves lives and something that we have to sort out as immediately as possible.”

He disclosed that other individuals and corporate bodies have also agreed to contribute their quota to the project and ensure that a befitting edifice is put up for the Hospital and the mothers.

“So I am sure that at worst, in a month or two we will come back to compliment this gesture. It is not just the maternity ward, there are also some challenges that the Hospital faces so we will do all we can,” he added.

The ¢50,000 is seed money for the project which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Management of the Hospital has promised to work swiftly to ensure the quick commencement of the project.

Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, Dr Kofi Ablorh told Komla “as soon as possible we will initiate the procurement procedure and once that is done we will start.”

He said the new maternity unit will include a labour ward and a neonatal intensive care unit.