Missing babies saga: New standard operation procedure for hospitals
The Ministry of Health is to develop a Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) for maternal and child health units in all hospitals in the country.
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The new development, which follows the conclusion of investigations into the missing baby saga at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, will also include neonatal care and ensure its compliance.
The Ministry has also tasked management of all hospitals in the country to review existing systems so as to improve performance.
This followed the conclusion of investigations into the missing baby saga at the KATH.
The Ministry, in a statement released Thursday said some of the personnel at the centre of the investigations have been sanctioned accordingly for professional negligence.
The Principal Midwifery Officer, Ms. Marian Asare, in charge of the labour ward has been suspended from midwifery practice for four weeks without pay.
Her counterpart Patience Amponsah, who was the head of the night shift, the night on which 42 year old mother, Suwaiba Mumuni lost her baby has also been suspended from the practice of midwifery for two weeks without pay.
Meanwhile the doctor on duty at the time of the incident, Dr Michael Adow is to be recalled from leave since the investigations revealed that there was no professional negligence on his part.
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The Orderly, Baba, who was arrested by the police, has been asked to continue his leave until the police complete their investigation into the case.
The sanctions formed part of a comprehensive recommendation the Ministry of Health received from three institutions, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Medical and Dental Council.
It was however recommended that Madam Suwaiba and her family should be provided emotional support through the services of a Clinical Psychologist.
On February 5, 2014, Madam Suwaiba Mumuni was referred to KATH and was delivered of a baby who was, unfortunately, dead, according to the hospital officials.
The hospital, however, was unable to produce the body of the baby when Suwaiba’s family requested for it, as it was alleged to have been taken away by a cleaner (Orderly) who came to clean the ward.
The story of the missing baby led to a standoff between the family and the management of the hospital, a situation which compelled some youth from Aboabo Zongo to storm the Labour Ward of KATH to assault staff on duty.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital Professor Ohene Adjei, was thus asked to take all his accumulated leave with immediate effect for investigations into the incident.