KATH doctors, staff launch fund to support mothers

DOCTORS and other allied staff of the Department of Child Health of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have launched a foundation to raise funds to support women who are unable to pay their hospital bills after delivery.

At least 250 staff, made up of doctors, nurses, administrators and other staff, have been rolled onto the fund, known as the ‘Little Steps Foundation’ and they have mobilised seed money of GH¢1,000.00 to help pay for the bills, cater for emergency drugs and conduct various kinds of laboratory tests for the expectant mothers.

Launching the fund on Thursday, the president and head of the Mother and Baby Unit of the Department of Child Health, Dr Gyikua Plange-Rhule, said a chunk of the fund would be used in getting the necessary equipment to save the lives of newborn babies, and also cater for other emergency care that some of the women were unable to pay.

A visit to the hospital by the Daily Graphic showed a number of women who had been delivered of their babies and were still at the hospital, as a result of their inability to pay their bills.

Philanthropic support

Dr Plange-Rhule said although individuals had been giving such philanthropic support to some of the women since last year, they decided to officially launch the foundation, to formalise their operations and also to encourage the public to contribute to the fund to save the lives of the women.

“No expectant woman should die or suffer because of lack of funds. This is a shared responsibility, but not a license for women to be reckless and irresponsible,” she said.

Currently, premature babies in intensive care are being given special care at the Mother and Babies Unit, while plans are on course by the hospital’s authorities to discharge all those who are unable to leave the ward due to financial challenges.