Minister for Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has directed the immediate posting of three medical doctors and five midwives to the Mother and Child Hospital in Kasoa following the death of a pregnant woman at the facility.
The directive follows reports that Abigail Opoku died during labour after the hospital allegedly failed to carry out a requested caesarean section because there were no available beds in the recovery ward.
Speaking to journalists during a visit to the hospital on Thursday, May 14, the Minister said the intervention forms part of immediate measures to address challenges confronting the facility and improve healthcare delivery.
“So the problems they enumerated are issues I can solve instantly. I have directed that about three medical doctors should be posted here with immediate effect. I have also directed that five midwives be posted to this facility,” he stated.
The Health Minister also announced that five hospital orderlies would be deployed immediately to strengthen support services at the hospital.
According to him, management of the facility has further been instructed to submit a list of urgently needed medical equipment for supply within the next 24 to 48 hours.
Mr Akandoh urged authorities at the hospital to improve service delivery and work to change the growing negative public perception surrounding the facility.
He additionally directed hospital management to ensure patients are properly attended to upon arrival at the facility, maintain fully functional CCTV systems at all times and enforce the wearing of name tags by health professionals.
The minister’s visit comes amid growing public concern over healthcare delivery and emergency response systems following recent reports of maternal and patient deaths linked to delays in treatment at some health facilities.
