The Baby and Mother Unit at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital recorded a 5 percent drop in child mortality in the first quarter of this year compared to last year.

Authorities attribute the modest achievement to public support in response to the plight of women and children at the facility due to space and equipment challenges.

Pediatrician specialist, Dr. Eno Adwoa Boakye-Yiadom believes Joy News’ documentary, ‘’Next to Die’’, made all the difference.

“From last year we were at a mortality of 20 percent but as at now, we are around 15 percent. We are talking about a reduction of 5 percent, this is a result of organizations and individuals contributing equipment such as phototherapy machines to reduce jaundice in the babies, ” she added.

 ‘Next to Die’, authored by Seth Kwame Boateng, moved First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo and the Multimedia Group to initiate on-going construction of a new MBU.

Beyond that individuals and organizations responded with donation of various medical equipment and other logistics

Dr. Eno Boakye- Yiadom told Nhyira FM that equipment such as photo-therapy machine for detecting jaundice in babies came in very handy.

“I must say that for the first quarter of this year our mortality has come down comparing to last year and I am sure when we go to the new building [and] installing all the new equipment, it will go a long way to reduce baby mortality.”

She, however, expressed worry some items presented to the hospital have made little or no purpose because they were not critically needed.

Dr. Eno Boakye Yiadom wants prospective benefactors to seek management input into the hospital’s most pressing needs for informed decisions on such humanitarian gesture.

"It will be very prudent if charity organizations and NGO’s come around and we have a round table talk so that they know our most pressing needs for them to help us with items we really need.'

Meanwhile, an Italy-based Ghanaian NGO, In God We Trust, is the latest to extend a hand of support to the MBU, with a donation of eight boxes of toiletries.

The team was led by Joycelyn Owusu Sarpong.