New KATH Mother and Baby Unit starts full operations next week

Work is complete on transfer of mothers and their babies, staff as well as equipment from the old to the new Mother and Baby Unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospita.
It paves way for full operations to begin next week to bring lasting relief to patients and health workers.
Chief Executive, Dr. Oheneba Owusu-Danso, spoke to Nhyira FM on the sidelines of the annual performance review in Kumasi.
A Joy News Special Assignment documentary, last year, highlighted needless deaths of mothers and babies at the hospital mainly due to congestion.
PHOTOS: New KATH Mother and Baby Unit named after Otumfuor’s late mother
First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo’s foundation partnered The Multimedia Group to raise funds to build a new facility.
Construction work was completed within 5 months and it was inaugurated a few weeks ago.
Dr. Oheneba Owusu-Danso says the wait has ended as technical issues initially associated with movement of staff and equipment is addressed.
“Let’s say that by Monday, Tuesday, we should see full operation there. Directive from management is that, we want all services to have begun from there next week, “he said.
But despite the movement to the new facility, some babies at the old facility will miss the deadline.
“The change-over has some technical issues that has to be normally tackled very prudently especially with little babies whose mortalities we are all worried about.
ALSO READ: Asantehene wants 44-year maternal block at KATH completed
There are two or more babies who may have to be kept at the old place for quiet sometime before their movement because they are so fragile. But hopefully by the weekend, everything would be sorted,”he explained.
Meanwhile, management has declared the hospital ‘drug- free’ environment which makes it an offence for staff to be under the influence of alcohol and hard drugs.
At least, three workers have since been sacked for abuse of unspecified substances.
Dr. Oheneba-Danso warns there will be no compro mise on such breach of disciplinary ethical measures.
ALSO READ: KATH mortuary assistants cry
“It is an offence for any staff member to abuse any substance including alcohol. Whilst management will be prepared to assist rehabilitation of such staff, it will not hesitate to use disciplinary procedures of the hospital to dismiss recalcitrant ones”