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.