First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo on a tour of the facility
First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo has commissioned a state-of-the-art newborn unit for the Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital in Accra, after almost ten decades of operating the facility without the unit.
For years, caregivers at the hospital had lamented the huge inadequacy they were confronted with at the mid-level and delivery stage of the conception chain due to the gaping lack of a newborn unit and its accompanying equipment.
The commissioning of the facility, financed by The Rebecca Foundation, adds to the number of similar and very timely interventions undertaken in the areas of mother and child healthcare by the first lady.
The 92-year-old facility, built in 1926, caters for the needs of maternal and child healthcare delivery in the country and is recognised for laying the foundation for integrated medical care for mothers and children.
In a brief address, Mrs Akufo-Addo said, “Today, we celebrate 92 years of this hospitals existence. It has been 92 years of ups and downs, as I imagine. Through it all, many individuals have sacrificed and gone to great length to continuously take care of our precious children.”
The first lady, on behalf of The Rebecca Foundation, donated five complete delivery systems, five advanced wound dressing materials, five pressure bed sheets, 10 gowns and 20 packs of diapers to the newborn unit.
She congratulated the board led by Rev Father Andrew Campbell, management and staff of the facility on the outstanding show of professionalism that has become an enviable trademark of the Princess Marie Hospital.
Rev Father Andrew Campbell, board chair of the hospital, on behalf of the children, expressed gratitude to The Rebecca Foundation for the kind gesture.
He said the new unit is a great contribution towards the delivery of quality healthcare of newborns.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri