16 births and 11 deaths At Korle Bu on X'mas day

Sixteen children had been born at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital while 10 people on admission had died and one had been brought in dead, by 1200 noon on Christmas day when the Ghana News Agency visited the hospital.

Ms Theresa T. Komieter Deputy Director of Nursing Services told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the figures were normal as the hospital statistics indicated an average of 30 births and 12 deaths daily for the greater part of 2003.

At the time the GNA called, the hospital had not recorded any accident related fatalities or injuries and Ms Komieter attributed the zero accident victim rate to intensive public education and sensitisation mounted by the Ghana Police Service.

Ms Komieter advised against self-medication and the seeking of medical advice from non-health professionals, she said most of the deaths were related to such practices as well as reporting late to hospitals.

She urged patients and families to report sickness to hospitals early to avoid complications and emphasised the need for regular medical check up "as it is the remedy for healthy living". Mr Christopher Nortey, Director of Administration, said the Hospital had put in place contingence measures to combat any eventualities because of the festivities.

He said Doctors, Nurses, Administrative Staffs and other supporting staffs were on duty and to motivate them, the Hospital Authorities had voted money for the provision of lunch and snack for those on duty. Statistics on birth and death were not ready at the Police and Military Hospitals at the time GNA called.

Dr Harold Agbenu said the Police Hospital received two accident victims - one domestic and the other a motor accident. Both victims had been treated and discharged.

Meanwhile the Korle Bu Division of the MTTU had recorded two accidents in the past 24 hours as at 1300 hours when GNA called. An Officer said the Police had impounded the vehicles involved for further investigation - a Nissan Patrol with registration number GV 127 U, belonging to the Gender Mainstreaming Ministry of Health Headquarters and a VW Golf GW 4426 U.

The Nima District Police Station, Cantonment Police Station and the Kotobabi Police Station had not recorded any accident as at the time accidents were usually recorded on 24th night and early morning on Christmas day.