KATH Records 4.6 Per Cent Drop In Neonatal Mortality In Four Months

The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) recorded a significant drop in neo-natal mortality following the inauguration of a new Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) in April this year.

The hospital recorded 2018 neo-natal deaths from April-July in 2018 as against 294 in the same period in 2017, representing a 4.6 per cent drop.

Pre-term mortality also reduced greatly from 29.1 per cent in the same period under review in 2017 to 12.3 per cent in 2018.

Dr Oheneba Owusu-Danso, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, who made these known, said the new facility was already making the expected positive intervention in the delivery of maternal and neonatal care at the hospital.

Addressing the mid-year review meeting of the hospital, he however, stressed the need to strengthen specialist maternal services in the peripheral health facilities such as midwifery homes, clinics and district hospitals, to assure improved obstetric care.

He said a number of new equipment have been procured to improve patient care and the general operations of the Hospital.

They include the supply and installation of new electric dryer for the laundry unit at the cost of GH¢135,000.00, two ultrasound machines and probes, patients monitors, five sets of powered drills among others.

Dr Owusu-Danso said contracts have been awarded for the procurement of 200 Dosimeters for staff with radiation equipment and multiple sets of comprehensive Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) surgical instruments.

Through the intervention of the Ministry of Health, the hospital’s Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine, which had been down for some time, was currently functioning to provide full stream of radiological services.

On staff accommodation, he said work was progressing steadily on the construction of a 40-flat housemen hostel at Bantama.

Management has also commenced arrangement with State Housing Company (SCH) to redevelop the staff quarters at Bantama and Ampabame into high rise residential accommodation.

Again, discussions have begun to secure some block of flats at the Asokore Mampong affordable estates for staff of the hospital.

Dr Owusu-Danso urged the workers to continue to work hard to sustain the image of the hospital as the centre of excellence for health care in the country.