Shama, Nov. 12, GNA - A 24-year old single mother of four, Millicent Arthur, alias Mena Deku, has been discharged from the Takoradi hospital after undergoing a successful operation to remove a dead foetus. The victim was rescued by seven medical doctors who were on a medical outreach programme at Shama on October 22. The team led by Dr Bernanrd Boateng-Duah, President, Dr Ernest Anderson, Secretary, Dr Patrick Quist, a Gyaenecologist, Dr Dzapartey Darko, Dr Frank Agbormogyi, Dr Marian Okoh and Dr Boakye Boateng. The Western Regional branch of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) paid her medical bills during her two week stay in the hospital. The victim was spotted in severe pains, lying on a bench nearby, and when examined, it was detected that she was pregnant, but the foetus had died and she needed urgent surgery to save her life. Ms Arthur was therefore rushed to the Takoradi hospital where the emergency operation was performed. Her relations abandoned her at the hospital because she was not registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and they were not ready to pay the medical bills. They also did not know that the GMA had undertaken to pay her entire bills.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Shama on Tuesday, Ms. Arthur thanked the medical doctors for rescuing her and for paying for all her medical bills. Ms Arthur said she had learnt her lesson and hoped to register with the NHIS soon, adding "presently I am unemployed and my husband had divorced me for some time now. "I will visit the Shama clinic and opt for one of the family planning methods to prevent any future occurrence". Ms Arthur added "I may not be lucky the next time and could die and leave my children as orphans and their future could not be guaranteed." "All my four children attend the Shama District Council School and I manage to buy their uniforms and their books" She said. Dr Ernest Anderson, Western Regional Secretary of the GMA said the victim was fortunate that they arrive there that day otherwise she would have been dead.

He appealed to pregnant women and the sick to visit the nearest hospital without any delay, adding, the NHIS should serve as a security for all.

Dr Anderson appealed to all Ghanaians not to take the NHIS for granted adding "pregnant women could also attend hospital free under the free maternal health care programme of the NHIS. On October 23, Seven Medical doctors from some health facilities in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis rescued a single mother of four from imminent death at Shama.

The doctors who were on an outreach programme as part of their corporate social responsibility, identified the victim who was helpless and lying down on bench nearby. A critical observation of the victim revealed that she had had miscarriage and needed urgent medical attention, to remove the dead foetus.

The team had to suspend the entire exercise, quickly coordinate an ambulance but when one was delaying, Dr Boateng-Duah, used his private vehicle to convey the victim to the Takoradi hospital where an emergency operation was performed to save her life. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at her hospital bed on last Thursday, Millicent Arthur thanked the team for coming to her aid.