The Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman in the Eastern Region, Thomas Ampem Nyarko, has paid the medical bill for a 16-year-old mother and her newborn baby who were detained at the VRA Hospital in Akosombo due to an inability to pay a medical bill of GHC 2,528.40.
The payment was made by a delegation led by Karim Awudu, his personal assistant; Clement Amegaste, the NDC Constituency Secretary; and Hajia Rashidatu, the Constituency Treasurer.
The hospital immediately discharged the young mother and her baby.
The MP has pledged to enroll the young mother in the Thomas Ampem Nyarko Skills Development and Youth Empowerment Program (TANSDYEP), which provides vocational skill training and start-up equipment to the youth in the constituency to help them become self-employed.
The 16-year-old mother, who became pregnant under difficult circumstances and was abandoned by the teenage father, faced her pregnancy with little support after her sister, with whom she was staying, reportedly sacked her from the house.
She has since been accommodated by a good Samaritan in the Akosombo community who cared for her throughout the antenatal period.
She was admitted to the VRA Hospital a few days ago, but complications during labor necessitated a cesarean section.
She successfully delivered a healthy baby boy.
However, the inability to settle the medical bill left the new mother and her child detained.