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THREE institutions on Friday donated a neonatal phototherapy machine and an incubator to the Princess Marie Louise (PML) Children’s Hospital to support neonatal care.
The Hungary Embassy, IPMC, and JA Health Hub made the donation under the auspices of the Ga Mantse Foundation.
The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, said healthcare in Ghana faced major challenges and the PML Hospital was unfortunately the only children’s hospital in the country providing specialised paediatric healthcare.
He noted that the facility faced significant infrastructure challenges, making it necessary to collaborate with partners to provide essential support for saving newborn lives.
He expressed satisfaction with the donation and was optimistic that the equipment would strengthen healthcare institutions’ capacity to deliver quality neonatal care.
King Tsuru II commended his partners -IPMC, Medicor, and Hungarian Embassy in Ghana, among others for the effort to promote quality healthcare for children.
He pledged to support the establishment of additional children’s hospitals in the Greater Accra Region and committed to providing land for their construction.
He called on individuals with the resources and capacity to support the initiative, emphasising the need for collective efforts to create a hopeful future for parents and newborns.
The Chief Executive Officer of IPMC, Mr. Amardeep Singh Hari, commended Ghana’s leadership, particularly President John Mahama, for initiatives like the University of Ghana Medical Centre and the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, which have strengthened the country’s health infrastructure.
He noted, however, that challenges in newborn care persisted, making the intervention necessary.
Medical Superintendent, PML Children’s Hospital, Dr Maame Yaa Nyarko, stated that although a lot of the children were not dying from neonatal jaundice, they were suffering from its long term effects such as cerebral palsy.
She defined neonatal jaundice as the yellowish discolouration of the skin, sclera and mucous membranes as a result of the break down of the red blood cells.
She said 60 per cent of full term babies and 80 per cent of preterm babies could develop newborn jaundice.
Dr Nyarko also advised mothers to ensure early initiation of breastfeeding to help keep the yellow colouration away.
On his part, an International Medicine Specialist, Dr Joseph Akwasi Boateng, called on heath practitioners to make their operations patient-centred.
This, he said, was necessary to save more lives.
He also admonished the government and the private sector to join hands to turn facilities like the PML, UGMC and Greater Accra Regional Hospital, among others, into medical tourists’ centres to sustain them.
Deputy CEO, Medicor, Mr Andras Steiner, indicated that manufacturers of the equipment, said although the phototherapy machine will help support the health of newborn babies, parents should in the event of emergencies endeavour to take their babies to health facilities on time without delay in order to ensure quick recovery and survival.
The Chairman of the Advisory Board of PML Children’s Hospital, Reverend Father Andrew Campbell, described the machines as a timely and valuable gift, especially as the facility approaches its 100th anniversary.
Reflecting on his experiences at the hospital, he recalled the suffering of many children and the emotional toll on parents who lost their newborns.
He expressed gratitude for the support, emphasising the impact the donation would have on saving young lives.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU
