Maternity patients and newborns of the Ayawaso Municipality in the Greater Accra region of Ghana will now be able to receive significantly improved critical medical care thanks to a couple of projects completed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Church-funded renovations and new equipment for the Maternity Ward at the University of Ghana Hospital, along with Church-donated equipment to the University Service Public Health Unit, was all handed over to the University by Elder Adeyinka Ojediran, First Counselor of the Africa West Area Presidency, on 7 November 2024.
The University of Ghana Hospital was founded in 1957, primarily to serve students, staff, and dependents, but its services were later extended to others in the community. The maternity ward was added in the 60's, and along with the rest of the hospital, the maternity ward has experienced ever increasing demand as the population of the area has exploded, putting significant strain on the quality of care it is able to offer. Of great concern to the obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGYN) department was the lack of its own operating theatre to perform Caesarean section deliveries and other life-saving procedures. Medical staff has had to wheel patients in labour across the parking lot, sometimes through rain, to the main operating theatre in the hospital. The lack of monitoring equipment and infant resusciteur equipment has led to higher complication and death rates.
Recognizing the need to renovate and refurbish OBGYN services and facilities, the University reached out to The Church for help. In response, The Church has funded the creation of a maternity operating theatre, the refurbishing of existing facilities, and the furnishing of new equipment for the delivery suites, the recovery ward, client and staff washrooms, consulting rooms, and nurses stations.
The University Service Public Health Unit also received aid from the church. The Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Centre, which treats patients with HIV, was also in desperate need of equipment. Despite the progress that has been made in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, children continue to contract the condition. The ART centre currently serves 40 children in Accra living with AIDS/HIV who require routine lab workups, food and nutritional supplements, and other monitoring and treatments that have become challenging to deliver. The Church’s donation of medical and non-medical equipment and supplies enables the ART Centre to render the necessary services and support.
Regarding the maternity center renovaitons and donations that were funded by The Church, Dr. Afua Asabea Amoabeng, head of the Public Health Department, addressed The Church leadership present, saying that 'We cannot say a big thank you -- a thank you is not enough. Your generosity and partnership in funding this project has gone a long way in helping the work that we do here . . . God bless you and thank you very much.'
Elder Ojediran explained to the ceremony attendees that 'Our actions reflect the universal mission of the Church, which is to foster the social, economical, and spiritual oneness of inidividuals worldwide . . .Our mandate, to love our neighbors as ourselves, informs our actions, and we hope these donations embody that principle. I acknowledge your gratitude for this contribution.'
Following the remarks, the ceremony closed and University Hospital staff conducted a tour of the facility, proudly and gratefully revealing the results of several years of hard work accomplished through The Church's generous donation.
