News
Tamale West Hospital wants more beds and space for expectant mothers
The Tamale West Hospital in the Tamale metropolis has called for immediate assistance to ease the pressure on midwives and expectant mothers at the maternity ward of the facility.
Lack of space and labour beds has compelled expectant mothers to give birth on the floor, and this poses a lot of risk during this pandemic.
Madam Mary Mensah, in-charge of the labour ward made the appeal during a visit by a delegation from UNICEF to inspect how expectant mothers were coping amid the outbreak of the deadly corona virus in the country.
“We just delivered a baby on the floor, which is a normal thing we usually do when the mother is due and there is no space for her.”
“With only four delivery beds in the labour room, we sometimes deliver over 20 children especially during the peak month of September and about 5,000 in a year,” she said.
Madam Mensah said that even with inadequate resources and concerns about the COVID-19 disease exposure, the priority of the midwives was to continue to risk their health and lives so as to bring new life into the world safely.
“Two mothers share the same bed after delivery, they are observed briefly then discharged in order to make room for other mothers,” she added.
Dr Patrick Gyampoh, the Medical Superintendent stated that, the hospital was doing its best in adhering to the World Health Organisation’s protocols of social distancing by providing adequate space for each bed, but there is not enough space to stick to the measures.
“With even the 15-bed capacity, some of the beds are moved to the corridor and some women are forced to sleep on the floor which isn’t appropriate,” he said.
“As we are encouraging pregnant women to deliver at the health centres, if the place isn’t safe, how will they feel comfortable adhering to our calls?” Dr Gyampoh asked rhetorically.
He said that, the hospital in its small way, was gradually expanding some wards to make adequate room for mothers to feel very comfortable visiting the health facility, and commended UNICEF for its continuous support in saving lives of children and mothers, especially in remote and deprived areas.
Dr Mrunal Shytre, Chief of Health and Nutrition at UNICEF Ghana, applauded the midwives at the hospital for their dedication, despite the little resources available, in saving the lives of children and women in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He promised UNICEF’s unalloyed support to the government in providing the necessary measures to ensure the safety of midwives, children and mothers in the country.
The delegation also visited a dedicated site to construct a Neonatal Intensive Unit (NICU) department for the hospital.
From: Geoffrey Buta, Tamale.
News
Heritage Month Ghana trends
Since the institution of the Heritage Month celebration in Ghana, it has offered citizens opportunities of a lifetime to learn about their cultures and lifestyles.
Ghana’s version is observed in the month of March, coinciding with the country’s Independence Day celebrations on March 6.
Show host, George Sappor in full
regalia as a traditional leader
outfit to mark Independence Day and
Heritage Month. She usually does it with
husband and best friend, Kofi Aduonum
but in his absence, she maintained the
poise to attract the atte
Heritage Month features festivals, food fairs, arts, crafts, and music events to highlight the economic and social value of preserving national heritage.
Though a brainchild of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the celebration has been driven to greater heights by local media with the organisation of several events to create the needed euphoria.
at Original TV gave
culture a touch of ‘old
school’ in her presentation
last Tuesday to wow
her audience as part of
the station’s Heritage
Month celebration
Among the events are the Heritage Caravan and Back To Your Village Food Bazaar powered by Accra-based Citi FM and Citi TV, Wear Ghana Festival and the Gɔbɛ festival powered by 3News.
The Heritage Caravan is a road trip which takes patrons across more than half of Ghana’s regions to offer a distinctive road trip that allows participants to explore the various regions of Ghana, providing an up-close encounter with the country’s historical and cultural heritage.
In addition to these roles played by the media, news anchors and other presenters appear on screens immaculately garbed in locally made outfits, bringing out the beauty of our traditions.
Today, The Spectator newspaper selected a few of the media personalities that are working to give the celebration a global dimension to project the country.
By Andrew Nortey
News
MoMo vendor 24 murdered at Kwadaso
A disturbing crime has shaken the Kwadaso Onion market community in Kumasi, leaving family and friends grieving the loss of a young life.
Identified only as Junior, a 24-year-old mobile money vendor, was found murdered in his room on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
According to eyewitnesses, Junior had returned home the previous day with a substantial amount of money, over Gh¢20,000.
It was suspected that the killers might have been motivated by the large sum of money in Junior’s possession.
A police source that confirmed this to The Spectator, said investigation has been launched into Junior’s murder, but so far, no arrests have been made.
The Kwadaso community is reeling in shock, calling for justice and an end to the atrocity that has claimed the life of a young and promising individual.
Junior, is believed to be a native of Ejisu Onwe, and was known to his colleagues and friends as a hardworking and diligent individual who worked at the Kumasi Race Course.
His tragic death serves as a stark reminder of the risks and challenges mobile money vendors faced.
The incident comes barely a month after Patricia Nimako, a 27-year-old Mobile Money (MoMo) vendor, was shot and killed at Krofrom, Kumasi in the Ashanti region by an unknown assailants.
The suspected armed robbers fled with the deceased cell phones and an amount of GH¢10,000 on Thursday, February 13, at approximately 3:00 p.m.
The two armed robbers reportedly stormed the kiosk where the deceased was operating and without any provocation shot her dead.
There has not been any arrest yet by the police.
From Kingsley E. Hope , Kumasi
