By Samuel Ofori Boateng, GNA
Manso Akwasiso (Ash), June 23, GNA â A traditional ruler is advocating for the reintroduction of the free maternal healthcare to help support needy mothers and their children during childbirth.
Nana Kwakye Gyimah Yeboah II, the Chief of Manso Akwasiho in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti region, who made the call, said it was sad to see many mothers and their newborn babies stranded in hospitals after successful deliveries, due to their inability to settle their medical bills.
Nana Yeboah made the call after settling the medical bills of pregnant women, who delivered at the Saint Martin Catholic hospital at Agroyesum on Fathersâ Day.
The gesture was part of activities marking the 50th birthday celebration of Nana Yeboah and was aimed at bringing joy to the mothers and their families.
Nana Yeboah said childbirth should be a period of happiness and fulfillment for families rather than a source of stress and financial hardship.
He noted that, despite progress made in Ghana’s healthcare sector, many expectant mothers continued to face financial barriers in accessing quality maternal healthcare services.
The chief lamented that some women, who successfully gave birth were forced to stay in hospital wards for extended periods because they were unable to settle the cost of delivery and other related medical expenses.
He described the situation as unfortunate and called on the government to implement a comprehensive maternal healthcare policy that would make pregnancy, delivery and postnatal care completely free for all women.
Nana Yeboah pointed out that such a policy would significantly reduce the financial burden on families, improve maternal and child health outcomes, and ensure that no mother or newborn baby was detained in a health facility because of poverty.
He further appealed to philanthropists, corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to support vulnerable mothers and contribute towards improving maternal welfare in their communities.
Dr Abraham Kwame Tandoh, the Medical Officer at St. Martin Catholic Hospital, commended the chief for his generosity and commitment to supporting maternal healthcare.
He noted that the intervention would provide much-needed assistance to the beneficiaries, while encouraging others to support healthcare delivery initiatives.
Dr Tandoh also advised pregnant women to prioritise antenatal care and attend all scheduled clinic appointments throughout pregnancy.
He said regular antenatal visits enable healthcare professionals to identify potential complications early and provide timely interventions that help ensure safe deliveries.
He emphasised that many pregnancy-related complications could be prevented or effectively managed when expectant mothers sought medical care early and adhere to professional medical advice.
Some of the beneficiary mothers expressed profound gratitude to Nana Kwakye Gyimah Yeboah for the support, describing the gesture as timely, thoughtful and life changing.
They stated that financial assistance would help ease the burden of post-delivery expenses and contribute to the care and well-being of their newborn babies.
The mothers praised the chief for choosing to celebrate his 50th birthday by touching lives and supporting vulnerable families and offered prayers for God’s continued blessings, good health and long life for him and encouraged other leaders and philanthropists to emulate his example.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/ Christabel Addo