KATH CEO Axed Over Missing Baby Saga

The ministry of health has directed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to proceed on leave following the failure to provide the bodies of three still born babies allegedly disposed off by a staff of the hospital. The CEO is expected to take all his accumulated leave with immediate effect. The Ministry issued an order for management of the facility to account for the babies declared dead on February 5 this year. But the relentless request of madam Suwaiba to see her dead baby, brought KATH to a standstill as she was backed by her family and neighbors in her Zongo community in Kumasi. The ministry also directed the board of KATH to appoint a senior person in management to take over as CEO and inform the ministry accordingly. At a press conference organized on Tuesday, the Minister for health, Sherry Ayittey noted that there were administrative lapses on the party of the hospital. According to her, there were lack of identification mechanism of still-born babies at the facility, making it impossible for still-born babies to be taken through certification processes as required under the rules of the hospital. The health minister further pointed out that Madam Suwaiba, the woman at the centre of the case, was poorly taken care of by the midwife then on duty. The ministry has therefore given the Dental and Medical Council as well as the Nurses and Midwifery Council to submit their reports on the case by April 15, this year. The ministry also said it is in the process of facilitating a meeting with madam Suwaiba and her family as well as her lawyer, to find an amicable settlement to the unfortunate incident. Meanwhile, the midwife then on duty, will continue to be on an indefinite leave until submission of the final reports and recommendations by the two councils.