By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, May 06, GNA – Ms Maalu Bernice Tantuo, Senior Staff Midwifery Officer at Nahuyili Health Centre in Northern Region, was adjudged Regional Best Midwife at an awards ceremony in Tamale commemorating this year’s International Day of the Midwife event.
The event, organised by the Ghana Registered Midwives Association in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, with support from UNFPA and other partners, recognised outstanding midwives across all the 16 regions and teaching hospitals in the country for their dedication and professionalism in maternal and neonatal care.
Ms Tantuo, after receiving the award, expressed gratitude to the organisers and supporting partners, saying the recognition would motivate her and her colleagues to continue delivering quality care to mothers and newborns.
She commended the Ghana Registered Midwives Association and the Ministry of Health for instituting the awards scheme, describing it as a significant step towards encouraging excellence in midwifery practice.
Other regional awardees at the ceremony included Sabina Amoako Atta, Midwife Officer at the Tanoso Health Centre in the Ahafo Region; Abena Serwaa Saffu, Senior Midwifery Officer at the Ejisu Government Hospital in the Ashanti Region; and Philipina Akoto Mensah, Senior Staff Midwife at the Tain District Hospital in the Bono Region.
Elizabeth Antwiwaa Coffie, Senior Staff Midwife at Our Lady of Fatima Health Centre in the Bono East Region, and Safiatu Ibrahim, Senior Midwifery Officer at Our Lady of Grace Hospital in the Central Region, were also honoured.
In the Eastern Region, Ocansey Otutua Esther, Midwife Officer at the Nsawam Government Hospital, received recognition, while Abigail Ansah Asamoah of the Ga East Municipal Hospital was named Best for the Greater Accra Region.
Bernice Adzoa Kormedza of the Dzologbogame Health Centre in the Volta Region and Barbara Aflakpi of the Dodo Amanfrom Health Centre in the Oti Region were also among the awardees.
Zakari Rabiatu of the Shelinvoya CHPS Compound in the North East Region and Mariam Kawuribi Adams of the Central Gonja District Hospital in the Savannah Region were equally honoured.
Atiah Felicia of the Vea Health Centre in the Upper East Region and Rita Donchiir of the Lawra Hospital in the Upper West Region were recognised for their exemplary service.
Beatrice Oforiwa Saforo of the Juaboso Government Hospital in the Western North Region and Elizabeth Esi Panford of the Effia Nkwanta Hospital in the Western Region completed the list of regional award winners.
At the teaching hospitals level, Marian Obenewa Akonnor of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Comfort Aseidu Anderson of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, and Richlove Dosu of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital were honoured.
Others were Sandra Yeboah of the University of Ghana Medical Centre, Eunice Letsa of the Ho Teaching Hospital, Hadia Baba of the Tamale Teaching Hospital, and Aisha Abass of the Sunyani Teaching Hospital.
All the awardees received refrigerators and plaques in recognition of their selfless service and commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes in the country.
Ms Evelyn Amoako, Acting Chief Programmes Officer for Nursing and Midwifery at the Ministry of Health, said the awardees were selected through a rigorous assessment process based on their project work and impact at their respective health facilities.
Madam Netta Forson Ackon, President of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association, called on the government to prioritise the expansion of the midwifery workforce in national health planning, budgeting, and implementation to accelerate recruitment and deployment, and to ensure that conditions of service reflected the critical role midwives play in the country.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh /Audrey Dekalu
Pictures Attached