Bawku to get new maternity and labour ward

The Bawku Presbyterian Hospital is to benefit from a new 12- bed maternity and labour ward to help contribute to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality.

Ms Clara Osei-Boateng, Director of SEND-Ghana, an NGO in charge of Policy, Advocacy and Programme, told the GNA in Bawku in Upper East Region that the project is being implemented by her outfit in conjunction with Christian Aid, another NGO.

The two organisations started an advocacy programme on how to contribute to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality in 30 districts in Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions in 2014, with funding from the European Union.

Ms Osei-Boateng said although advocacy plays a significant role by influencing national policy on maternal health, the main challenge that acts as a stumbling block to address the issue are logistics and infrastructure.

She said to help address the challenge, her outfit and Christian Aid contacted ‘Zochonis Charity Trust’, a charitable organisation that is into providing support.

She explained that the project provides 30 per cent of the funding while Friends of Bawku, an NGO, agreed to provide 70 per cent as the counterpart funding and the procurement of a biochemistry analyzer, which has the capacity to conduct 25 specimens within an hour.

Mr Fred Effah-Yeboah, General Manager of the Presbyterian Health Service-North, lauded the stakeholders for executing a good job.

He said apart from the buildings, the project is also providing support in the training of midwives in schools and retaining them to work at the health facility.

He appealed for a neonatal unit and water facilities to help render quality health services.

Mr Daniel Anabah, Senior Bio-chemist at the facility and the Manager of the laboratory, said hitherto it was very difficult for pregnant women to access laboratory tests such as liver and kidney function.

The Bawku Presbyterian Hospital is the major health delivery institution in the Bawku Municipality and it provides health services to Garu-Tempane, Pusiga, Binduri, Bawku West Districts and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Togo.