Zero tolerance for maternal death; Shai Osudoku Hospital shows the way
The Shai Osudoku District Hospital at Dodowa has developed emergency protocols on pregnancies to guide its staff, as a step towards ‘Zero Tolerance for Maternal Mortality’ at the facility.
The protocols, known as the ‘Salvation Board’ which are on pre-term labour, severe pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, post-partum and antepartum haemorrhage, offer guidelines which inform staff on what to do when a case is presented to them at the hospital.
This was made known when a group of journalists from the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) paid a courtesy call on the Medical Superintendent of the facility, Dr Kennedy Brightson, at Dodowa.
The visit formed part of a three-day media sensitisation workshop on malaria at Dodowa in the Shai Osudoku District, and organised by AMMREN and Malariacare, which is an initiative aimed at improving malaria case management in seven regions of the country.
The emergency protocols
According to Dr Brightson, for the past three years, staff of the hospital rely on the ‘Salvation Board,’ and this, he said, had helped to save a lot of women from dying during labour, indicating that the hospital had not recorded any maternal death during the period.
He mentioned that the hospital also makes use of community health nurses who go to villages in the district to educate and sensitise people, especially women, to the need to seek medical care whenever they are pregnant.
To further boost its work, the hospital has a blood bank, a fridge to store blood, and an incubator and other facilities to take care of pre-term babies.
Malaria endemic in Africa
Dr Brightson said malaria was the leading cause of outpatient attendance in the country, especially among pregnant women.
He therefore advised people who suspect they have malaria to go for testing and confirmation before starting any treatment.
According to him, self-medication for unconfirmed fevers was very dangerous and could lead to premature death.
He said among pregnant women, malaria could lead to miscarriages. It could jeopardise the life of the mother and baby and also lead to stunted growth among children.
Pregnancy school
He said the hospital had also instituted ‘a pregnancy school’ for pregnant women, their husbands and potential mothers, adding that the first batch of people have graduated from the ‘school.’
Writer's email: rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh