First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo
Rebecca Akufo-Addo, wife of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Wednesday launched the ‘Save A Child, Save A Mother’ campaign in Accra through her charity Rebecca Foundation.
The campaign is to raise over GH¢10 million for the construction of a Mother, Baby Unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in the Ashanti Region.
The initiative was triggered by the documentary on the deplorable conditions at the facility, which serves Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions, three Northern regions, as well as some parts of the Western Region by local TV station, Joy News.
The Mother and Baby Unit of KATH initially built to take about 60 babies is forced to take between 100 and 120 babies, with 3 to 4 babies in a cot due to the lack of space.
About four babies die daily as a result of congestion. At the preterm unit, several babies occupy an incubator meant for one baby, making it so easy for cross infection. Presently, the hospital has only three working incubators and four phototherapy units.
Currently, the maternity centre has two delivery beds and two operating rooms with only one functional.
Some women in labour have to hold on until the labour rooms are clear, leading to about 200 maternal deaths every year at Komfo Anokye.
The authorities at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital say additional space would greatly improve the situation.
Speaking at the fund-raising event, Mrs. Akufo-Addo said after watching the disturbing documentary, she and the wife of the Vice President Mrs Samira Bawumia, immediately decided to take steps to improve the situation.
“Not only because we are mothers, but because fate has put us in positions where we simply had to act. Like Esther in the Bible, we felt that God put us in our positions for a time like this,” she said.
“Simply put we decided to find the money to build a single story, maternity ward. Acting now will save so many lives.”
New Facility
The new unit, expected to be completed within three months, would be an insulated building equipped with 20 incubators and 20 phototherapy units.
The new unit would also have five delivery beds, three operating rooms and four emergency delivery beds.
Pledges /Donations
“While thinking about how to raise funds for the project, we knew then that we would need the support of generous, compassionate individuals and organizations, hence the fundraising event, the First Lady said.
She expressed her gratitude to the Japanese government and its 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.
“I call on all individuals, organizations, institutions, businesses, religious groups and other groups and associations to contribute to the fund to improve facilities at our health institutions.”
How to Support
Donations can be made to any Access Bank Branch with the following details- Account Name: Save A Child, Save a Mother. Cedi Account Number: 0090104618741; Dollar Account Number: 00091014618741; Euro Account Number: 0091064618741; Pounds Account Number: 0091024618741; MTN Mobile money number: 0547966662
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri