MTN is providing $600, 000 towards the refurbishment of the second floor of the labour and theatre wards of the Maternity Block of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra to facilitate improved health care for pregnant women and babies.
The project is being implemented in partnership with the Women’s Caucus in Parliament and the Ministry of Health. Minster of Health, Major Courage Quashigah (RTD), announced that his ministry is working towards the setting up of comprehensive abortion services in line with the laws of Ghana.
He regretted that Ghana’s coverage of maternal and neonatal interventions is still relatively low and 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.
“Our current five year programme of work therefore seeks to scale up maternal deliveries conducted by skilled attendants by improving access to basic, comprehensive, essential and intensive obstetric care in all health facilities.”
Major Quashigah was speaking during the launch of the first MTN Ghana Foundation Flagship Health Project. The MTN Ghana Foundation was launched in November 2007 in Accra, Tamale and Sunyani.
It is consistent with MTN Group’s global policy to establish foundations across all 21 of its operating units to spearhead its corporate social responsibility.
According to the health minister, the magnitude and persistently high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality in Ghana and Africa generally, and the fact that it is an indicator of development, raises several fundamental issues which policy makers need to confront.
He said maternal death audits are also being strengthened and systems far advanced to conduct confidential enquiries into maternal deaths.
“In fact the issues of women and child birth should take centre stage in every economic policy development in this country, if we come to understand that women carry the human capital of a nation for nine months, deliver and nurture them for wealth creation,” he emphasized.
He hoped that the refurbishment will not be just superficial but will involve the provision of structures that will allow for good service delivery and the protection of dignity of mothers who use them.
Major Quashigah urged the contactor to dialogue with managers and specialists in charge to know their challenges and provide for them.
Thanks to MTN Ghana Foundation initiative, husbands and partners would soon have the opportunity to witness the delivery process by their wives at their own convenience at the Korle Bu Teaching hospital.
Following the refurbishment of the second floor, labour and theatre wards of the Maternity block of the hospital, individual cubicles will be created to enhance privacy during delivery.
The Acting Chief Administrator of the hospital, Dr. B.D.R. T. Annan disclosed this at the launching ceremony.
According to Dr. Annan, the project which MTN Ghana has taken up had been on the hospital’s drawing board since 2003, after the rehabilitation of the first floor of the labour and theatre wards, but could not be executed due to lack of funds.
“The offer by MTN foundation to adopt and rehabilitate the labour and theatre wards is therefore a welcome gesture to the hospital board, management and staff as well as patients of the hospital,” he said.
He noted that upon the completion of the project, more theatre space will be created for the speedy performance of surgeries. T
his, he said, will tremendously reduce the waiting time of patients before they are attended to and also increase the number of surgeries (12) that are performed daily. Prof. Franklyn Manu, Board Chairman of MTN Ghana Foundation observed that both national and international health institutions have identified our maternal health mortality statistics as a key area of focus for development.
He said Promoting a better future for Ghanaian women and babies is vital to national development and was happy that the resources MTN is making available through the foundation, can be put to such good use.
Prof. Manu stated that it is not enough for corporate entities to pay their taxes to government because there is a clear recognition that corporate bodies too are citizens who must express a sensitivity to the well being of the society.
“They too must find ways to contribute to social development in whatever context they are pursuing their business objectives,” he urged.
He noted that by the initiative, MTN is showing its readiness to partner with other stakeholders including other corporate to render support to national development efforts.
MTN says it selected the maternity block because of its importance as the national referral point for the provision of critical and specialized maternal health care.
Ms. Mawuena Dumor, Corporate Services Executive of MTN Ghana, explained that wherever MTN operates, it feels a responsibility to make contributions to the welfare of the people among whom it is privileged to run its business.
“The success of MTN as an African multinational enables us to offer the highest levels of technology to Ghanaians as we invite them to participate in the new experience of telecommunications unique to this socio-cultural environment yet benchmarked at a world class level.”
Ms Dumor stressed that MTN places a premium on social investments as core aspect of its business with emphasis on social matters of national importance.
Professor Akua Kuenyehia, Patron of MTN Ghana Foundation and Vice President, International Criminal Court of Justice, The Hague performed the official launch of the project.
She noted that the health needs of populations worldwide poses a great challenge that cannot be addressed by governments alone but through interventions by multinationals like MTN.
She urged corporate organisations to collaborate to maximize resources for corporate social responsibility. T
he women caucus in parliament was represented at the launching ceremony.
In a solidarity message, it Chairperson, Mrs. Eugenia Kusi said the caucus does not only work to ensure that the interests of women are represented in laws that are passed but also to highlight and draw attention to issues affecting women.
She recalled that a seminar organised by members in 2006 prompted them to come to the aid of the ward which was the only one functioning then.
“We have been mobilizing funds and we are by this launching today telling other corporate organisations we have written to respond to our letters.”
She assured Ghanaian women that the Women’s Caucus of Parliament is concerned about their welfare and would not rest until their lot is improved
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