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HEALTH

Pregnancy school commissioned at Kintampo Municipal Hospital

An ultra-modern edifice has been outdoor and commissioned by the Keremankoma Hene and Gyaaswhene of the Mo Traditional Council, Nana Effah Guakro IV and Nana Tibalakala I at a short ceremony at the Kintampo Municipal Hospital under the auspices of the Municipal Health Directories, and the Northern Empowerment Association (NEA) to be used as pregnancy school.

Date Created : 3/25/2019 6:06:43 AM : Story Author : Rufina Yuoni/Ghanadistricts.com

The facility to be used as a pregnancy school was built by the Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Empowerment Association who also doubles as the Gyase Hene of the Mo Traditional Council, Dr. David Mensah, a Ghanaian-Canada based philanthropist.

The pregnancy school concept is an innovative way of communication between the health sector, pregnant women and their families with involvement of relevant stakeholders to offer a complete package of service during antenatal periods. This concept is step to replicate the first-hand experience gained by the Municipal Health Director Ms. Alice Vorleto on a JICA sponsored familiarization tour of Jokyo, Japan on the reduction maternal and infant mortality cases.

In her address Ms. Vorleto, was full of praise for Mr. David Mensah and noted that, after her transfer from her previous station to Kintampo in 2010, the general health situation in the Municipality was bad and called for serious remedy.

Ms Alice Voleto giving her Speech

She said, Kintampo was with the highest cases of teen age pregnancy in the then Brong Ahafo Region and had only three midwives and one (1) doctor at the Municipal Hospital with no Physician Assistant, she added. To remedy the situation, she founded the Municipal Health Committee, constructed and resourced the Adolescent corner of the Municipal Hospital and provided additional clinics and polyclinic.

She indicated also that, it was as a result of a partnership programme with the Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) known as “EMBRACE” which sought to reduce maternal and infant mortality that yielded results and also facilitated her familiarization tour of antenatal services in Tokyo, Japan by JICA which has led to the birth of the pregnancy school today supported by Dr. David Mensah. She indicated that, the pregnancy school today will be named Brenda/Alice Pregnancy School after Dr. David Mensah’s wife and herself.

Dr. David Mensah giving his Address

Delivering his keynote address, Dr. David Mensah, did not lavish in the praises after constructing such an edifice for such a good course but rather noted that, there are a lot of hospital infrastructure in the Kintampo Municipality but have least resources in terms of equipment and promised to assist in solving the problem. “Madam Alice is a go-getter” and “go-getters will always find splice with me”, he said.

He remarked that, experience was the best teacher and that, he used to attend same pregnancy school and benefit from the same kind of health knowledge the pregnancy school intends to impart on couples and thus found it relishing when Ms. Alice Vorleto approach him with the wonderful idea.

Dr. David Mensah Presenting Scale to Ms. Alice Voleto

He was particularly happy with maternal mental health services to be offered at the school as well as the education on sex during pregnancy. Dr. David Mensah then donated a hospital bed, weighing scale and undisclosed amount of cash in aid to resource the school and stated his willingness to support whenever called upon.

A book entitled, Pregnancy School Authored by Linda Vanatoo was auctioned at the ceremony and purchased by dignitaries.

Pledges and cash donations were made with the Member of Parliament for Kintampo North, Mr. Kwasi Etu-Bonde donating GHC1000 cedi’s, Mr. Malik Appiah a local contractor also donated GHC500 cedi’s, some Heads of departments, local Council of churches and all invited guests also gave some amount of money in support of the pregnancy school.

Nana Effah Guakro IV Cutting the Tape

In honor of this, Nananom were present, representing Mo, Kyeremankoma, Damoma and Nwoase, the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr. Majeed Ayarega, Municipal Health Director Ms. Alice Voleto, Municipal Information Officer Ms Rufina Yuoni, the Municipal Education

Director, Media, Municipal Health insurance Manager, Municipal fire Officer Representative, Municipal Health committee chair, Assembly men, Municipal Beauticians and dressmakers Association leaders, workers of the Municipal Health Service, Representatives from Local Council of Churches and some workers of Dr. David Mensah.