Accra, April 4, GNA - The Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN), a cellular phone network, has adopted the second floor of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Maternity block where it would invest 600 million dollars to give it a facelift befitting a premier hospital.

The project, which is an initiative of the MTN Ghana Foundation, upon completion is expected to provide more theatre space for speedy performance of surgeries and also reduce the waiting time of patients before they are attended to.

The project is also expected to reduce maternal death rate and prenatal morbidity, which are some of the targets of the Millennium Development Goals.

The MTN Foundation is an umbrella structure established within the MTN group charge with the responsibility of directing and managing the corporate social responsibility activities.

The foundation seeks to improve the quality of people's lives through appropriate corporate responsibility interventions in the areas of health and education.

Launching the project, Prof. Akua Kuenyehia, a patron of the Foundation, urged corporate bodies to follow suit since government alone could not do it all alone.

Health Minister Major Courage Quashigah (Rtd) said maternal morality had been one of the major challenges facing the ministry and there was the need to reduce its existing levels to reflect the present level of country's development.

"Unfortunately, as a country our coverage of maternal and neonatal interventions is still relatively low. Maternal mortality continues to be high largely as a result of the high proportion of deliveries that are performed by unskilled attendants in ill-equipped facilities." The ministry, he said, was currently training midwives to replace those who were ageing and commended MTN for their initiative.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Dr Ben Annan said the hospital would fashion out an effective planned preventive maintenance programme to prolong the lifespan of the facility when completed.

He explained that the design of the project had taken patient's privacy into consideration and would provide cubicles to enable husbands witness the delivery process as was being done in advanced countries. He said the hospital had increased water reservoirs from 20,000 to 60,000 litres adding, "management is in the process of drilling boreholes which will serve the maternity block and other selected departments".

Dr. Annan expressed the hospital's appreciation to MTN and other corporate bodies and individuals who had contributed in face-lifting the maternity block and called on other corporate bodies to emulate them. Ms. Mawuena Dumor, MTN Corporate Services Executive, said MTN placed a premium on social investment as a core aspect of their business with emphasis on social matters of national importance.

Mrs. Gifty E. Kusi, Chairperson, Women's Caucus of Parliament, said the caucus who were at the forefront of women and children issues, were the initiators of the project and noted that they were touched by the plight of pregnant women who had to queue for long hours to have their babies through caesarean surgery.

She said the women parliamentarians were grateful to MTN for making their effort worthwhile.