For three nursing mothers in the Ketu South Municipality, the joy of childbirth was overshadowed by despair.
They had given life to their babies but found their own lives trapped within the walls of the Ketu South Municipal Hospital.
Unable to pay their medical bills, they were detained for over a month, caught in a cruel cycle of poverty and hopelessness.
It took the intervention of the Tanko Foundation, in collaboration with the Duamenefa Foundation, to free them—not just physically but emotionally. At a special donation event, their debts were cleared, and their dignity restored.
One mother, speaking anonymously, recounted her heartbreaking ordeal with tears streaming down her face.
“The father of my baby denied me and abandoned us. I was left completely alone, stuck here with no money and no hope. I didn’t know if I would ever leave. When the Tanko Foundation came, they didn’t just save me—they gave my baby and me a second chance to live.”
This mother’s story is not isolated but emblematic of a deeper, systemic issue—how poverty and lack of social safety nets can reduce individuals to prisoners of circumstance.
The Tanko Foundation’s representative, Emmanuel Atokple, explained the urgency of their intervention.
“These mothers had no one to turn to. The founder of the Tanko Foundation, Gabriel Kwamigah Tanko Atokple, felt it was his duty to step in. We didn’t just clear their bills; we ensured they could return home with essential items like baby food, rice, diapers, and toiletries, and we provided them with some cash to start afresh,” he said.
But the foundation didn’t stop there. Emmanuel revealed that they also extended their benevolence to the children’s ward of the hospital, donating food and drinks to bring joy to the little ones.
“We believe no one should feel forgotten, especially during the festive season,” he added.
The Administrator of the Ketu South Municipal Hospital, Alex Hlotsi, expressed gratitude for the intervention but used the opportunity to highlight a larger need.
“This hospital is a referral facility, but we lack critical services like a dental unit. We appeal to other organizations and individuals to help us establish this unit so we can provide more comprehensive care.”
The mothers, freed from the weight of their debts, left the hospital with their babies in their arms and hope in their hearts.
Their ordeal has sparked conversations about the intersection of poverty and healthcare access, underscoring the urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure no one is left behind.
The Tanko Foundation’s timely intervention reminds us of the profound impact of empathy and collective action. In a world where many feel forgotten, their actions prove that humanity still has the power to transform lives.
For the three nursing mothers, their story is one of redemption—a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there are people willing to step in and light the way forward. As the world celebrates the New Year, their liberation serves as a powerful call to action: no one should have to choose between their dignity and their survival.