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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.
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113 Cardinals hold 3rd General Congregation in Rome
The 113 Cardinals present in Rome held the third General Congregation on Thursday morning, and announced who will deliver the two pre-conclave meditations.
The Cardinals decided that Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández will celebrate the Mass on the sixth day of the Novemdiales, instead of Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
They agreed that Fr. Donato Ogliari, O.S.B., Abbot of St. Paul Outside the Walls, will deliver the first meditation on Monday, and that Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher Emeritus of the Papal Household, will deliver the second meditation at the beginning of the conclave, whose starting date has not yet been decided.
The Cardinals began a conversation about the Church and the world, deciding to hold the next General Congregation on Friday morning at 9:00 AM.
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, told journalists that 61,000 people have paid their respects to the late Pope Francis as of 1:00 PM on Thursday, adding that St. Peter’s Basilica should close at midnight on Thursday, unless large crowds are still queuing to enter.
Following the Pope’s funeral on Saturday, April 26, a Rosary will be held in front of the Basilica of St. Mary Major on Saturday at 9:00 PM.
Mr. Bruni said the burial service for Pope Francis will take place in private.
Starting the morning of Sunday, April 27, the faithful may begin to visit the tomb of Pope Francis at the Marian Basilica.
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GEXIM deepens relations with US EXIM Bank
A management team of the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) led by the Acting Chief Executive, Sylvester Mensah met with the leadership of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM) on Wednesday April 23, 2025 in Washington DC, United States of America.
The Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM, Mr. James C. Cruse and Vice President, International Relations, Ms. Isabel Galdiz received the GEXIM delegation, which included Deputy CEO for Banking, Mr. Moses Klu Mensah and Head of International Cooperation, Mr. Jonathan Christopher Koney at the headquarters of US EXIM.
The meeting offered the GEXIM team the opportunity to share the strategic direction of the Bank in line with the resetting agenda of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for the repositioning of the Ghanaian economy into an export-led one by providing the requisite investment to Ghanaian businesses.
Mr. James C. Cruse expressed US EXIM’s eagerness to deepen its existing relations with GEXIM and proposed the signing of a new Cooperative Framework Agreement following the expiration of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019 to utilize US EXIM’s medium term loan guarantees to procure machinery by GEXIM for qualified Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Mr.Sylvester Mensah thanked the Acting President and Chairman of US EXIM for hosting the GEXIM delegation and reaffirmed the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthening trade and investment between Ghana and its global partners for economic transformation of Ghana with GEXIM playing a pivotal role.
The two teams will be meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 US EXIM Annual Conference on 29th and April 30, 2025 to explore possible areas of collaboration and matching Ghanaian businesses to American companies. The meeting ended with an exchange of gifts.
