Missing babies at KATH; MoH to close case Friday

Minister of Health, Madam Sherry Ayittey says the Ministry will, Friday seek to bring closure to the mystery surrounding the five missing babies said to be stillborns delivered at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

According to her, KATH had responded to the Ministry’s directives and was awaiting responses from the Medical and Dental Council and the Nurses and Midwives Council in order to bring the matter to an end.

In February, the Ministry of Health (MoH) gave a 14-day ultimatum to the board, management and chief executive officer (CEO) of KATH to account for five stillborns delivered on February 5, 2014.

The ministry also ordered the doctor and the midwife who were on duty when a baby said to be stillborn got missing to proceed on leave and gave the Ethics and Disciplinary committees of the Dental and Medical Council and the Nurses and Midwives Council 14 days to investigate the circumstances that led to the disappearance of the baby.

According to reports, three of the babies, including one born to 42-year-old Madam Suwaiba Mumuni, were said to have been placed in a wooden box for collection by the mortuary attendant in the morning. Another report also said the orderly who was on duty that evening sent the wooden box containing the bodies of the three babies to the hospital’s incinerator for cremation.

Speaking on Radio Gold Monday, Madam Ayittey said, “We have looked at the report and last Friday we received a response from the hospital. We are waiting for the Medical and Dental Council and the Nurses and Midwives Council to submit their report. And I believe that by the end of this week we will conclude and close this matter.”

{mp3}health minister on kath{/mp3}