Hot!
‘Don’t keep mothers who lose babies in same ward’
● Ms Lydia Mensah, a mother who lost her baby girl
A 30-year-old mother, Ms Lydia Mensah, who lost her daughter after delivery, has urged hospital authorities to separate ‘unfortunate’ mothers who lose their babies after birth from ‘successful’ mothers.
According to her, that would ease the pain, trauma and heartbreak associated with such situations.
She said watching other mothers breastfeed and take care of their newborn babies remind them of their loss.
Speaking with The Spectator on Monday as part of activities to mark what would have been the fourth birthday of her baby girl this month, Ms Mensah said she found it necessary to use the occasion to appeal to medical professionals to take such mothers to different wards to help them overcome the ordeal.
Ms Mensah narrated how her baby had died from shortness of breath because oxygen was in short supply at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and recalled how staff had replaced hers with that of another baby who was stable.
“After feeding her, I went back to check on her again but when I saw the number of medical staff gathered around her, I got alarmed and went to enquire about what was happening and I was told to go and get oxygen for her.”
“Having just gone through a caesarean-section, I was forced to roam the hospital in search of oxygen to save my daughter.”
The 30-year-old mother said she felt too weak and so she had to call her mother and husband to help get some for her but it was too late.
“What broke my heart was when I went to the wards and saw other mothers feeding their babies,” she said.
She said she had to complain to a doctor who suggested that she should be discharged so that her mother who was a medical person would assist in dressing her wound.
According to her, going back for review was another trauma because she saw many mothers with their babies at the Child Welfare Clinic.
“I was broken and I have never cried like that in my entire life like I did during that period,” she disclosed.
Ms Mensah said though she had a son before she lost her daughter and another son after, she continued to battle with the pain of losing a child.
She appealed to the government to ensure that there was enough oxygen in the various hospitals to supply such babies and urged medical professionals to help under such circumstances.
She said it was also important that mothers who had lost their babies were taken through some form of counselling before they are discharged.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema.
Hot!
Zipline, GHS reduce maternal mortality in Ashanti Region by 56.4% – Study
A recent impact assessment study on aerial logistics to improve maternal health and emergencies has revealed a remarkable reduction in maternal mortality by 56.4% in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Zipline and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
This was revealed at the National Ghana Health Service Research Conference organized by the Ghana Health Service in partnership with Zipline. The study, which focused on the impact of aerial logistics in healthcare, also noted a 19.9% increase in antenatal visits and a 25% rise in in-facility births, signaling a significant boost in maternal health outcomes.
The success according to the study is attributed to the on-demand availability of blood and essential medical supplies provided by Zipline’s innovative drone delivery system. This consistent access to critical resources has increased patient confidence in the healthcare system, encouraging more mothers to seek necessary care throughout their pregnancies.
Speaking on the highlight of the study, the Research Officer at Ashanti Regional Health Directorate stated, “the significant decrease in maternal mortality we’ve seen is a clear indication of the vital role that reliable access to medical supplies plays in healthcare. The ability to deliver blood and essential medicines exactly when they’re needed has transformed how mothers in the Ashanti Region perceive and engage with the healthcare system.”
“It’s an achievement that speaks to the importance of introducing technology in healthcare delivery. Mothers now feel more confident in seeking care, knowing that they will receive the support they need throughout their pregnancies,”he stated.
The study examined data from 191 health facilities, including hospitals, health centers, and Community-based Health and Planning Services (CHPS) Compounds. Among these, 99 facilities were served by Zipline’s aerial logistics, while 91 were not. The research employed adjusted rates for various key indicators, such as antenatal consultations, emergency visits, referrals, live births, hysterectomies, maternal deaths, and neonatal deaths, as the main dependent variables.
The qualitative aspect of the study aimed to describe and analyze the changes in satisfaction levels among healthcare providers and patients, perceived quality of care in maternal health and emergencies, and experiences related to the use of aerial logistics. In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 patients and 23 healthcare providers at the participating facilities.
Globally, maternal mortality remains a critical public health challenge, with stark disparities between high-income and low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the majority of maternal deaths occur in LMICs, often due to preventable causes. In Ghana, particularly in the Ashanti Region, the problem is critical, reflecting the broader challenges faced across the African continent. Beyond this, socio-economic, geographic, and infrastructural factors intensify the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions to improve maternal health outcomes.
As maternal mortality continues to pose a challenge in low-to-middle-income countries, the success seen in Ghana’s Ashanti Region offers a promising model for other regions and nations striving to improve maternal health outcomes through innovative solutions.
Zipline is poised to continue leading the way in revolutionizing healthcare delivery, ensuring that every mother has access to the life-saving resources, no matter where she lives.
Hot!
Traders, ‘Okada’ riders take over Circle pavement
• Korle-Bu CEO with staff of Nivaansh MediQas
Activities of traders and drug addicts are contributing to make the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange (Circle) area very uncomfortable and unsafe for commuters.
Day in and out, pedestrians are ‘ejected’ from the pavement created for their safety as traders preferred to sell their wares on that space.
That hinders the free movement of the pedestrians.
The small space left for the pedestrians are also shared with ‘Okada’ riders.
As if these woes are not enough for a commuter on a single day, they also have to navigate carefully to avoid clashes with drug addicts and the mentally challenged.
These people have turned the pavements into their places of abode, covering every inch of space with their wares.
Our photographer, Lizzy Okai, captures some of the unfriendly scenes the authorities must try and deal with to restore sanity to the area.
By Lizzy Okai
