The MTN Foundation, a leading communication company in the country, has cut the sod for the construction of a neonatal intensive centre for the Tamale Teaching Hospital to provide care and support for new born babies.

The project, which is estimated to cost GH¢335,000 would be equipped with the needed facilities to provide intensive care to improve the survival rate for critically ill neonates in meeting the MDG 4 global initiative in reducing cum infant mortality.

The project is part of the month-long Savanna Fest celebration of the MTN Foundation, which has so far seen the communication giant commissioned a three-unit classroom block for the Kanvilli Presby JHS and presented medical equipment to the Chereponi district both in the Northern Region.

Mr. James Basintale, General Manager of MTN Northern Business District on Thursday said the facility was expected to cater for cases in the three northern regions since it was the only unit in these areas, noting that it was expected not only to improve health conditions but also the working condition of staff.

He said the project was part of many efforts MTN was making to put smiles on the faces of its subscribers stressing that “MTN Foundation has invested GH¢9.7 million over the last five years in health, education and economic empowerment across the country”.

The company, he noted had invested GH¢1.1 million in various projects in the Northern Region alone in providing services, which included schools, hospital’s rehabilitation and medical supplies.

Dr. Ken Sagoe, the Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, who cut the sod for the project, commended MTN for the gesture noting that the unit, which was established in 2009, had save the lives of many children, who would have died due to low birth weight.

He said the neonatal unit was poorly equipped with only eight incubators without adequate medical facilities, adding that “three babies are put in one incubator, which had the danger of the babies contracting diseases from each other…” he emphasized.

He said as a result of the congestion, some of the children died through cross infections and lauded the assistance of MTN, which he said when completed, could contained 40 beds that could provide healthcare to many people.

Dr. Sagoe said the old structure had restricted space with sometimes rodent attacks but was largely over subscribe with some of the patients coming from the Upper West and East Regions, adding that ‘neonatal cases are contributing factors of infant mortalities’.

Dr. Anthony Amponsem, Pediatrics Consultant at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, said the unit admits 300 to 500 patients per annum with about one-third of the patients dying as a result of poor facilities and late admissions.