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KATH records reduction in maternal mortality
Dr Joseph Akpaloo

KATH records reduction in maternal mortality

The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) recorded  more than five per cent reduction in maternal mortality between 2013 and 2016.  From 1,222 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2013, the hospital now records 791 deaths per 100,000 live births.

According to the hospital, the significant drop in the rate was as a result of its commitment to the MDG’s Accelerated Framework (MAF) programme instituted by the Ministry of Health.

The Chief Executive Officer of KATH, Dr Joseph Akpaloo, announced this at this year’s mid-year performance review meeting in Kumasi.

Outreach

He said the feat was achieved partly because of the outreach programmes carried out by the hospital to peripheral health facilities in the region and beyond by senior specialists and consultants from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Child Health directorates.

The Ministry of Health donated a new Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle to facilitate the outreach programme to the various district hospitals in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central and Western regions.

Emergency cases

Dr Akpaloo also announced that emergency cases handled by the hospital in the first half of the year showed a decrease from 12,274 within the same period last year to 10,731.

Admissions to wards in the hospital also declined from 20,329 in mid-year 2015 to 18,243 mid-year 2016, while deliveries also dropped from 5,103 in the half year of 2015 to 4,539 within the same period this year.

Projects

The CEO further announced that the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia and Gesellschaft fur International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), both in Germany, had presented 325,000 Euro towards the construction of a modern medical waste treatment facility in Kumasi.

The project, which involves the installation of a high temperature, smokeless incinerator, together with the provision of 150 pieces of 240-litre bins and large quantities of personal protective equipment, was near completion, he said.

He said it would help in the safe disposal of infectious chemical and pharmaceutical waste generated at the hospital.

The hospital had also begun the installation of eight new lifts to replace obsolete ones, he added.

 Dr Akpaloo, however, appealed to the MoH for a new oxygen plant to help save lives.

He also urged all units, directorates and management teams of the hospital to think outside the box to mobilise extra resources for improved clinical care.

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