Unit Saves 450 Preterm Babies In Less Than Two Years

The Kangaroo Babies Care Unit of the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua, has saved the lives of 450 preterm babies in less than two years of its establishment.

Dr. Jocelyn Asibey, Head of the Child Health Department of the Hospital, announced this at the celebration of this year’s world prematurity day held in Koforidua.

The day has been instituted by the World Health Organization (WHO) to bring attention and urgency to global initiatives to address preterm births

Dr. Asibey said the Unit had been teaching mothers how to provide warmth to such babies to aid their survival and growth through their body contact.

She added that there was hope for premature babies and that they could be properly managed by hospitals.

Mr. Eric KwakyeDarfour, the Regional Minister, said it was important to scale up public education to help everybody to know that preterm babies could be saved.

He asked that mothers of these babies were supported and encouraged to take good care of them.

Dr. Kwame AnimBoamah, Medical Director of the Hospital, said their goal was to become a centre of excellence – provide world class service to patients.

He spoke of the support they were giving to the Nsawam and Suhum Government Hospitals towards the establishment of Kangaroo Babies Care Centres, to efficiently manage preterm babies.

Dr. Emmanuel Amoah, Deputy Eastern Regional Health Director (Clinical Care), urged health workers to maintain high standard of professionalism and to give to give their all to bring healing to the sick.

Mothers of premature babies, who have survived, hailed the staff of the Unit for the extraordinary passion, care and love that helped to save the lives of the babies.

Source: GNA