....Electronic Fetal Doppler Stethoscopes to the Akwapim and Prampram Health Districts
The Kwakwaduam Association of New York has donated Electronic Fetal Doppler Stethoscopes worth over 7,500 USD to the Prampam and Akuapem Health Districts.
Making the presentations on behalf of the Association, Dr. Kwame Aniapam Boafo a Gynecologist at the Albert Einstein Medical School, New York and a Consultant to the Organization said that the Association recognizes the need to enhance the work done by our midwives who are at the fore front of maternal care and the need to improve the quality of work done by them. He said the stillbirth rate in Ghana is on the average about 25 per 1000 and that of the developed nation is about 3 to 5. He said there was need to bridge this gap and the provision of the electronic Doppler stethoscopes will go a long way in making it easier to avoid fresh stillbirths and enhance antepartum care.
The District Health Director of Akwapim, Dr. Winful Sophie expressed her gratitude and indicated that a concerted effort was being made to improve the perinatal statistics in concert with the MDG expectations and that the Dopplers were most welcome . Mrs Gifty Ofori Ansah at Prampram expressed similar sentiments.
The Prampram District has Nine Maternity Centers and the Akwapim District, 22 Maternity Centers including Asenema, Adukrom, Okrakwadwo, Asesseso, Abiriw, Akropong, Mamfe, Mampong, Larteh, Twum Guaso, Tinkong, Osabene, Mangoase, Adawso, Kwamoso, Aburi, Berekuso, Pokrom, Oboadaka, Pakro and Obotwere.
The President of the Organization, Mr. Mark Saforo said Kwakwaduam Association Inc. is an organization whose mission includes a global health component and the supply of the stethoscopes was consistent with this mission. He said the funds for this project were raised at the last Dinner Dance and implored the public to support the efforts of Kwakwaduam Association Inc
Ms Emilia Okoampah the Organizing Secretary of Kwakwaduam was part of the delegation that had travelled to Ghana to do the presentation. She said she hoped that the Doppler stethoscopes would be used for the purpose for which it was donated and that she will continue her efforts to motivate Kwakwaduam meet other needs of the health institutions. Dr Mawuli Gyakobo the Medical Superintendent at Mampong Hospital said he hoped some critical research could be done in this regard to help improve our performance of the Midwifery centers.
It will be recalled that in the past Kwakwaduam had provided computers for the Presbyterian University, provided water for the School for the Blind in Ghana, provided water for villages, and provided medical supplies to maternal health clinics in villages in the Akwapim district among others.
Please visit Kwakwaduam on the web at www.AkropongKwakwaduam.org