Health News of Wednesday, 27 December 2006

Source: GNA

43 Newborn Ghanaians on Christmas

Accra, Dec. 27, GNA- Forty-three newborns babies were delivered in two selected hospitals in Accra during the Christmas holidays this year. The deliveries, which took place at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Ridge Hospital, had 24 females and 19 males with seven caesarean section recorded at the Ridge Hospital.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Wednesday, Ms Diana Asante-Mensah, Matron in charge of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit of the Ridge Hospital, said the babies were all in good health. She noted that the Hospital had made efforts to increase public confidence and that had resulted in a huge turnout at the Out Patient Department (OPD).

She said the increase in the daily turnout of patients had over-stretched facilities, adding that the Gynaecology OPD was currently too small to accommodate and give sitting comfort to both the pregnant women during antenatal clinics and for others during their clinic days.

In 2004, the Unit recorded 1,900 births; 2,800 births in 2005 and 4,600 births as at November 2006.

Ms Asante-Mensah said the Hospital received referred cases from Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, and all the Polyclinics around resulting in congestion and the putting of pressure on the limited facilities. At the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ms Abena Kesse, Matron in charge, said the babies and their mothers were all doing well.