Ghanaians hail doctor who offered Kangaroo care to preterm baby of sick patient

He holds the baby under his clothing, upright and tightly on his chest while working at all times.

This is the story of Dr. Da-Costa Dorkeh, a young medical doctor driving positive change in the life of patients at Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua.

Dr. Da-Costa was acknowledged by a colleague on Facebook for offering the Kangaroo Mothercare method to a preterm baby of one of his patients (baby's mother) who was sick and also being taken care of by her mother.

The baby was initially moved into a cot in order to make way for younger preterms to access the incubator and the caring doctor decided to offer his kindness to the baby, colleague Dr Afua Osew-Gyamfi posted on Facebook on Monday.

An act that is rarely seen at hospitals in Ghana as exclaimed by many Facebook users who responded to the post by Dr Afua Osew-Gyamfi who is believed to be his boss at the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua.

Several Ghanaians honoured and applauded the young doctor for his act of good deed with some describing him as a “true gem”.

Dr Afua Osew-Gyamfi post read: “Today I feel proud as a doctor. I have a preterm on admission (premie A). Baby is not Sick but mother has not been well. Grandmother is with mother caring for her. As we needed the incubator for younger preterms who need the incubator more, we had to move premie A into a cot. Premie A needs mother to keep her warm but mother is not around. One of my younger doctors decided to carry baby A on his bosom whilst still working.

Today I am proud to have met this young man. Glad to have worked alongside with him. Ghanaians are glad to have you with us.

I told him I will get a 100 likes for him and premie A. Come on people, let’s show him how we support the likes of him on these streets,” her post read.



Read the reactions of Ghanaians below.