Sefwi Wiawso (WN/R), July 27, GNA – The Liaison Group overseeing mining in production forest reserves, has presented quantities of maternal and neonatal healthcare equipment to the Bibiani Municipal and the Sefwi Wiawso Government Hospitals.
The donation worth GH₵180,000.00 was aimed at equipping the beneficiary health institutions to deliver quality services to mothers and their new borns in the facilities.
The equipment included 3-crank fouler beds, wheelchairs, bedside lockers, treatment trolleys, infant swaddling tables, ambubags for infants and toddlers, foetal doppler, nebulizers, blood pressure apparatuses, gynaecological/suturing sets, IV stand and infant incubators.
Others were baby weighing scales, autoclave machines, phototherapy lights, suction machines, pulse oximeters, maternal examination couches, hospital infant baby cots and visitor’s bedside chairs.
The Liaison Group is a multi-stakeholder body of institutions responsible for the proper and sustainable management of mining operations within forest reserves in Ghana.
The institutions comprise the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Forestry Commission (FC), Minerals Commission, Water Resource Commission, Chamber of Mines, and the Ghana Geological Survey Authority,
Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, Executive Director of EPA, presenting the items at separate ceremonies to hand-over the items, said neonatal and maternal healthcare were very critical in attaining quality health status in Ghana.
“There is no reason why an expectant mother should suffer mortality when simple equipment could make a difference between saving a life and losing it, our babies are born to live, no matter the challenges,” he observed.
He said this was why such equipment must be made available to health facilities to render top notch services for their clients.
Dr Kokofu said as part of activities to ensure sustainable mining in forest reserves, the Liaison Group in 2014 resolved to provide support to affected communities by using part of the 0.5 per cent of the contributions made by mining firms operating legally within production forest for community development.
Funding for this particular donation were contributions from Chirano Gold Mines Limited and other affiliate mines.
Apart from funds used to procure the hospital equipment, cultural and heritage disbursement were also made to the traditional authorities.
Dr Kokofu said the initiative had contributed immensely to developmental needs of communities in the Bibiani-Anwiaso-Bekwai and Sefwi Wiawso Municipalities, including schools, markets, palaces, and health facilities.
Dr Akwasi Adu Gyamfi, Medical Superintendent of Bibiani Government Hospital, expressed appreciation to the Liaison Group for the continuous support and pledged to put the items to good use.
He said the Hospital had in the last few years made progress in maternal and neonatal services and was hopeful the new equipment would complement efforts at rendering excellent services in the unit.
Source: Ghana News Agency
Add Comment