Paul Amaonoo
A self-styled traditional birth attendant, Paul Amaonoo, popularly known as Doctor Paul, has been arrested on suspicion of causing the deaths of an expectant mother and her baby.
The sad incident ocurred at a facility in Peace Land, a suburb of Zenu in the Kpone-Katamansu Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.
The deceased has been identified as Lucky Teiko Nyinaku whose husband is believed to be a fire officer.
The suspect was said to have attempted to help the woman to give birth but the 30-year-old woman and her baby died at the unlicenced health facility.
According to the police, preliminary investigation revealed that the 35-year-old man falsified documents to open the supposed health facility called Royal Medi Clinic at Peace Land.
Further investigations by police have also revealed that the mother attended antenatal at Tema General Hospital and was penciled for cesarean session next week and this was made known to the traditional birth attendant.
However, when the woman delivered, she lost the baby and was bleeding profusely and the self-styled traditional birth attendant allegedly delayed conveying her to a hospital for the needed treatment as he claimed to have “saved the situation.”
The supposed traditional birth attendant is said to have converted an uncompleted three chamber and hall apartments into a clinic and has reportedly portrayed himself to the community as a medical doctor.
Police investigation so far revealed that he had his training as a physician assistant who was yet to write his licensure examination before being issued a licence to practice as such.
He has, however, operated the facility for over two years until the unfortunate incident which is under investigation at the New York/Atadeka District Police Headquarters.
The suspect has been in custody since Tuesday, when police raided the facility.
A visit to the facility by DAILY GUIDE revealed various orthodox medicines in a dusty and uncompleted cubicle he calls pharmacy.
Confirming the case to DAILY GUIDE, Chief Inspector Stella Dede Dzakpasu, Spokesperson for the Tema Regional Police Command, said the suspect had been charged with negligently causing harm among others.
According to the PRO, on February 8, 2021 at 4:20 pm, the victim’s husband, who is the complainant in the case, reported that his wife was in labour and he rushed her to Royal Medi Herb Clinic at Peace Land for delivery at about 5:00am the same day.
She said the woman gave birth to a baby boy but the child passed on some few minutes, saying that “after the delivery, the wife was bleeding profusely and the Mr. Amoanoo referred them to Trinity Hospital at Zenu but the wife was pronounced dead on arrival,” she stated.
Whiles investigation was ongoing the suspect Mr. Amoanoo reported at the station and was immediately arrested and detained for further investigations.
The bodies have been conveyed and deposited at the mortuary of the Tema General Hospital for autopsy and preservation and the coroner has been notified for further action as the Ghana Medical Association and Midwives Association are assisting with investigation.
The police PRO said the suspect, Mr. Amaonoo, could not produce any certificate or document legitimizing his activities.
FROM Vincent Kubi, Tema