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Tarkwa Municipal Hospital improves neonatal health
Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, (left) presenting the award to Ms Arthur at the ceremony. Mr Duker (second left) applauding
A Senior Nursing Officer (SNO) at the Tarkwa Municipal Government Hospital in the Western Region, Ms Selina Arthur, says complications have reduced and survival rate of new born babies improved at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Hospital.
The success, she attributed to the adoption of what she called a ‘family meeting’ with other critical units like the maternity and doctors, to discuss the reduction of complications to improve the survival rate of neo-natal babies.
Ms Arthur gave the encouraging news in an interview with The Spectator after she received the MPs Special Award at the third Duker Teachers and Health Workers awards held at Tarkwa, last Friday.
She received a plaque, a chest freezer, GH¢10,000 and a motorcyle.
The event is an initiative of the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa- Nsuaem, Mr George Mireku Duker, and held on the theme: ‘Championing learning and wellness in our communities.’
36 other persons including health workers, also received various awards.
Sharing her thoughts with The Spectator, Ms Arthur, a paediatric nurse at NICU of the Tarkwa Municipal Hospital said, working at the unit comes with passion and self- motivation, saying, “the neonatal babies required special attention.”
“Every NICU nurse needs to ensure that new babies (day old babies) were spared of any complications, and survived, to transfer to the nursery.”
Ms Arthur, with about 30 years’ experience, told The Spectator that other units like the Maternity and Labour wards also need to ensure that neo-natal babies were safe and survived operations along the delivery chain.
Moreover, she underlined that working within the NICU environment came with challenges, but, the unit was encouraged to ensure survival of patients, hoping that, “if we have the equipment, most of them will survive.”
Ms Arthur further encouraged health professionals, especially nurses, to be self- motivated, dedicated and show passion to save lives of new born babies.
These professional attributes, she said, would help improve health delivery in the communities they practiced.
Mr Alex Otoo, a tutor at the NMTC, also an awardee, also told The Spectator that nurses needed to be imbued with passion and care for patients even if it’s time for closing.
Mr Duker elaborated that last year, he promised to honour health professionals who worked hard and tirelessly to provide effective healthcare services to save lives.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Tarkwa