The Obuasi Municipal Health Directorate on Friday, 27th November 2020 marked World Prematurity Day in Obuasi.
This year’s celebration was under the theme “Together for babies born too soon-caring for the future”.
The day which is mostly celebrated in November is set aside every year to put a spotlight on over 15 million children born prematurely.
The Medical Superintendent at the Obuasi Government Hospital, Dr Kwadwo Nyarko- Jectey who himself was born prematurely, is a child born in less than 37 weeks – 40 weeks.
He explained that it is a leading cause of death among new-born babies.
According to Dr Jectey, Preterm is a global issue and cannot be eliminated but rather can be reduced according to Ghana Newborn Care strategy and Action plan and the Sustainable Development Goal whose target is to reduce Prematurity in 2030.
He added that, when Prematurity occurs, the hospital does its best to help the child survive even though the best way to help reduce the risk of losing the child’s life is by incubation.
Currently, the hospitals do not have incubators due to the cost involved but personnel have acquired knowledge to help these preterm babies survive by providing a resuscitation area where heat is been produced to help the babies survive since their survival depends on heat and oxygen.
Dr Kwadwo Nyarko Jectey pleaded with stakeholders to come to their aid and support them with incubators and other medical equipment like scanning machine since currently, the hospital has 3 resuscitation areas to help sustain the babies.
Still, on his request, he urged the media to give them some free airtime to help educate the public.
“Even though we are doing our best under the circumstances, as health practitioners to educate those in the rural areas on Preterm, we still need bigger platforms to reach out to the larger population”, he added.
The Member of Parliament for Obuasi Municipal Kweku Agyemang Kwarteng, speaking on behalf of the government, said he will ensure that more spotlight will be thrown on Preterm to sensitize the public.
He added that the ultra-modern maternity hospital will have sufficient incubators but in the meantime, there will be an arrangement to curb the situation while waiting for the ultra-modern hospital.
The Municipal Chief Executive Officer Elijah Adansi-Bonnah also urged men to support their spouses during pregnancy and also accompany them when they seek antenatal care.
The World Premature day is mostly celebrated on November 17 but due to some circumstances beyond the control of the Obuasi Health Directorate celebrated it was celebrated on the 25 of November 2020.