The Kumasi South Hospital's labour ward, which oversees the delivery of over one hundred and fifty babies every month, has long faced challenges with access to sterilization equipment, jeopardising safe and clean delivery.

The ward uses an improvised method of high-level disinfection, which puts patients at risk of infections and disease transmission.

In view of this, an NGO, Garden of Grace Foundation has provided the hospital with its first tabletop steam sterilizer to improve patient care and operational efficiency.

The labour ward at Kumasi South Hospital handles over 1,500 baby deliveries yearly.

Despite the huge numbers, quality delivery sessions are delayed, and seemingly being jeopardized due to the lack of sterilisation machine to cleanse delivery equipment.

The hospital usually relies on its main Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) for sterilizing instruments or uses high-level disinfection methods.

Labor Ward In-Charge, Lydia Addai says this improvision is ineffective, leading to significant delays, and high infection risks.

“The instruments are not that much. But they need to be sterilised after every section. Because we don't have a sterilizer, we send the things to the main CSSD. Sometimes you have to wait for them to finish others before they attend to you.

“So it takes a lot of time to get the equipment to use for another session of delivery. Which is not effective. Which was why we needed a steriliser,” she said.

Lydia Addai was therefore elated when the Garden of Grace Foundation made a donation of a new tabletop steam sterilizer, and LED examination Lamp to the maternity ward.

The Foundation also sought to mitigate the underprivileged mothers crowding the Kumasi South Hospital due to their inability to foot medical bills.

A cash donation of GHS20,000 was donated to discharge such mothers parading at premises of the hospital.

The donation also included hospital bed sheets to improve patient experience.

“With a donation from the Grace Foundation to the labor ward of Kumasi South Hospital, the rate of sterilizers will increase.

“Because it's a government hospital anyone can come in for health care and we can't refuse them. It then becomes a challenge to get them to pay for bills and I am glad this donation covered such individuals,” said Lydia.

The Ghana rep for the Garden of Grace Foundation, Reverend Christopher Osei-Wusu, said quality healthcare is a priority to the foundation.

“The intervention is to ensure that everyone has a safe space and freedom to be comfortable and that includes the underprivileged. It is our basic duty and priority as men of God and followers of Christ to assist those who are in need,” he said.

Meanwhile, some underprivileged patients who are beneficiaries of the interventions expressed their gratitude.

“I gave birth a week go. And I had no one to discharge me. I've been here wandering about, yet no help was coming. I've lost contact with all my relatives also. I was extremely happy when I learned about this good news. And I am grateful to the foundation,” a new mother, Irene said.