First Lady Mrs. Akufo-Addo launches fundraising for KATH maternity ward

Rebecca Akufo-Addo Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, on Thursday organised a fundraising event to save babies and mothers at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). 

The event dubbed: “#SaveThemNow” which has a target of Ten million Ghana Cedis, (GHS10 M), is to put up a new Mother and Baby Unit for the largest hospital in the Ashanti Region. 

The event “save babies and mothers at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH)” received massive support from individuals and companies. 

Ghana's First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, launching the "Save a child, save a mother" project, called on all individuals, organizations, institutions, businesses, religious groups and other groups and associations to contribute to the fund to improve facilities at health institutions. 

According to the first lady, after viewing what she described as a horrified and disturbing documentary put together by Seth Kwame Boateng, a reporter with the Multimedia Group, she, with the Second Lady, Mrs Samira Bawumia, decided to take up the challenge by putting up a Maternity Block to cater for expectant mothers and new born babies. 

“We were horrified about new-borns and their mothers dying as a result of a very congested maternity ward, packed with expectant mothers due to lack of space at KATH.”
 
“We saw mothers lying on the floor and on hard benches. There is so little space that some women in labour have to hold on until the labour rooms are free. This is what our pregnant women endure. This deplorable situation leads to about 200 maternal deaths every year, at Komfo Anokye.” 
That’s according to the First Lady. 

“The cry of a healthy new born baby pierces the air. The smile of a mother radiates happiness, gratitude and wonder. This is a picture we are all familiar with. But this is a picture that eludes or very quickly fades for some families in our dear Ghana," she said. 

According to her, the authorities at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, have made it clear that having some additional space would greatly improve the situation.
 
“This is a facility that serves Ashanti, Bono- Ahafo, the three regions of the North and even parts of central and Western regions. Simply put we decided to find the money to build a single story, maternity ward. Acting now will save so many lives,” she indicated. 

This new unit, according to the First Lady, will make a real difference. 

Currently, the maternity centre has 2 delivery beds and 2 operating rooms with only one functional. The new unit would have 5 delivery beds, 3 operating rooms and 4 emergency delivery beds. Presently, there are only 3 working incubators, and 4 phototherapy units. 

The new unit would be equipped with 20 incubators and 20 phototherapy units.
 
The current facility uses natural ventilation which makes the place really hot. The new unit would be an insulated building with forced cooling, that’s the view of Ghana’s First Lady, Mrs Akufo-Addo.
 
The new unit will allow KATH to take in four times the current number of infants and mothers. Ultimately the projection is that this new unit would reduce the avoidable deaths by 60-80%. I believe we would all be happy with this outcome. She added. 

“So far we have had some pledges, and some donations, but we are far from what is needed. Let me at this stage thank the Japanese government through their embassy in Ghana and others who wish to remain anonymous, for their kind donation to the project. We need the support of all of you here to build this facility. No mother should lose her life giving life to another. No child should lose their life, before they have a shot at life. “she said. 

The event received massive support from individuals and companies and some religious groups.



GBC