The worsening health delivery system at Donkorkrom in the Kwahu Afram Plains district of the Eastern region has claimed the life of a two—day old bay.
The baby delivered through caesarean section at Donkokrom Presbyterian district hospital
suffered complications and needed emergency care.
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But the absence of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the hospital forced the doctor, Dr. Emmanuel Addipa-Adapoe to convert a friend’s pickup into an ambulance.
Narrating his ordeal on Adom News Sunday, he said in his quest to save the innocent baby, he quickly removed an oxygen tank, put it at the bucket of the pickup and connected the tube to the baby to keep him alive.
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Their only option, Dr. Addipa-Adapoe stated was to rush the baby to Koforidua government hospital but the bad and unmotorable roads caused the oxygen to fluctuate.
He said he had to use the Ambu bag which is a hand-held device to provide positive pressure ventilation to the baby who was not breathing adequately.
“We got to Ekyi in about an hour and half and took the pontoon to Adawso and continued to Koforidua hospital on road for about two hours where the baby was admitted” he added.
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But unfortunately, Dr. Addipa-Adapoe said the baby could not survive due to his condition.
He said babies with such conditions if they survive could suffer from cerebral palsy or seizures.
“Due to the time they took to transfer the baby to the referral centre, he could have suffered any of these conditions so they give glory to God for what has happened” he noted.
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Dr. Addipa-Adapoe appealed to government to equip the hospital which serves the people of Afram Plains North and South.
He said the current situation could worsen the high mortality and morbidity rates in the area.
Dr. Addipa-Adapoe also appealed to philanthropists to complement government’s efforts to improve healthcare delivery in Ghana.
Source: Ghana|Adom News|Adomonline.com
