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The Central Regional Health Directorate has announced that it is investigating the tragic maternal death at the Kasoa Mother and Child Hospital. In a statement issued on April 29, the Directorate expressed its commitment to accountability and patient safety, confirming that a dedicated investigative committee has been set up to look into the incident.
The committee, which includes representatives from the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Trauma & Specialist Hospital, the Regional Health Directorate, the Regional Coordinating Council, and the Attorney General’s office, has been tasked with conducting a thorough and transparent review of the circumstances surrounding the death. Upon completion, the findings and recommendations will be made public to ensure transparency and inform measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
The Directorate also reassured the public of its continued commitment to the safety, quality of care, and well-being of all patients, especially mothers and children. In the release, signed by the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Mrs. Alberta Adjebeng Biritwum-Nyarko, the Directorate extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved family, friends, and others affected by this devastating loss. “The death of a mother is a profoundly painful event, and we treat this matter with the utmost seriousness and concern,” the statement said.
The Directorate appealed for calm and urged the public to allow the investigation to proceed without interference to ensure a fair and credible outcome.
Background
According to reports from Citinewsroom, the incident involved Opoku Abigail, a pregnant woman in labor, who tragically died after being allegedly denied a caesarean section request due to a lack of available beds in the recovery ward. Abigail had initially gone to a private facility but was referred to Kasoa Mother and Child Hospital after her labor was prolonged.
At the hospital, both Abigail and her family requested a caesarean section, but their requests were declined by staff, who cited the unavailability of a bed in the recovery ward. The family claims Abigail passed away nearly 36 hours after arriving at the hospital, with the baby still in her womb.
Her death, which occurred on Sunday, April 26, has raised concerns, with the family claiming there have been several similar incidents at the facility. A sister of the deceased spoke to Citi News, calling for a review of the hospital’s operations, insisting that Abigail’s life could have been saved if the surgical intervention had been granted. She recounted that after their arrival at the hospital between 2 and 3 am, Abigail was left in pain without medication, and her request for a caesarean section was reportedly ignored.
Efforts to reach the Medical Director and Administrator of the hospital for comment were unsuccessful, as officials stated that both were unavailable.
Story by Efua Nessa
Source: Loco tv