The Ministry of Health has given a 14-day ultimatum to management of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to produce five babies declared dead at the facility.

The ministry issued the directive after it concluded investigations into the alleged missing stillbirth babies at the facility early this month.

The nation has for weeks been gripped by the story of a baby declared dead at birth at the hospital although the facility admits it cannot find the body. The family of the baby suspects nurses and doctors at the facility conspired to steal their child.

It has however emerged that on the same day that the baby was controversially declared dead, there were 16 other deliveries, five of which were declared dead at birth.

The doctor on duty and the head of midwifery on duty have been asked to take their accumulated leave.

They have also been referred to the appropriate Councils for further investigations.

“With immediate effect the Board, Management and CEO of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital [should] account for the corpse of the five (5) still born babies delivered on the said date within 14 working days for burial by the families,” Health Minister Madam Sherry Ayittey said at a press conference.

“We are working hard to reduce neonatal death and also accelerating our effort of reducing maternal and child mortality and morbidity that is why we take this issue seriously,” she stressed.

According to the minister, the committee that investigated the issue discovered that job descriptions were not clearly spelt out at the facility and new staff were not being supervised to ensure adherence to standard operation procedures.

Meanwhile, the family of Suwaiba Mumuni, whose baby is among the five missing babies, say the minister’s directive was welcoming to the family and their sympathizers.

“It shows the institutions are really working,” Mohammed Abdul Rahman, brother of Suwaiba told Joy FM’s Top Story on Thursday.

Though he said his sister was not contacted during the ministry’s investigations, Suwaiba was “very happy” when she received the news about the action taken by the ministry, emphasizing that “her mood has changed”.

Meanwhile, the police in Kumasi have charged seven staff of the hospital with stealing and conspiracy to steal a baby. They are four nurses, an orderly, the one in charge of the incinerator and a mortuary attendant, Nhyira FM's Ohemeng Tawiah reports.

Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council, Dr. Eli Kwasi Atikpui  said they are yet to receive a letter from the Minister of Health concerning the conduct of the doctor on duty, when the still births were delivered. However, he said the form of investigations to be carried out by the council would depend on what the ministry would request of them.

He said if the doctor involved is found guilty by the disciplinary committee of the council, he or she could be reprimanded, suspended over a period of time or have his or her name struck out of their register and also asked to pay cost.

 

BELOW IS THE MINISTRY'S STATEMENT

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF HEALTH, HON. SHERRY AY1TTEY ON THE ALLEGED MISSING BABY AT THE KOMFO ANOKYE TEACHING HOSPITAL ON

27th FEBUARY, 2014,2:00

Ladies and gentlemen of the press I have invited you here this afternoon to brief you about the recent unfortunate incident that happened at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital on February 5th, 2014 and other related matters. We are working hard to reduce neonatal death and also accelerating our effort of reducing maternal and child mortality and morbidity that is why we take this issue seriously.

When this issue came to our notice the Ministry quickly constituted a team to investigate the matter and submit a report with recommendations that would help strengthen the operation at the maternity wards in the hospitals. The recommendations will also avoid reoccurrence of such problems. The committee has submitted their report we want to share their findings with the people of Ghana.

The Ministry of Health wish to assure the general public, especially the family of Suwaiba Abdul Mumuni and other mothers that we will not rest in our effort in making sure that justice is sought in the matter. Now the facts of the matter, on February 5th, 2014 Madam Suwaiba Mumuni, a 42 year old mother of one who was carrying her second term pregnancy was referred from Amaamata Memorial Maternity Clinic, Kumasi where she received antenatal care.

On the night shift of 5th February, 2014 there were a total of 16 deliveries in the Labour ward and a total of five (5) still births. Mrs Suwaiba Mumuni’s baby was one of the still birth.

Mrs Suwaiba Mumuni was said to have arrived in the unit at 3:20pm on the 4th of February, 2014 having been referred as post dated pregnancy with four days history of premature rupture of membranes.

She was thought not to be in established labour and therefore admitted onto the observation ward. On admission, the doctor covering the ward and the labor ward recorded the presence of fetal heart beat of 142 beats per minute which was regular. Midwives on duty on the other hand could not establish fetal heart (FH)

During her five hours stay on the labour ward, no fetal heart beat recordings were made by the midwives and at 3:50am on the 5 of February, when she delivered and the child was still born. Meanwhile the Doctor on duty constantly recorded Fetal heart beat until she delivered and the child was still born.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press the baby was labeled and placed in a box with two other still births delivered that shift in the sluice room for collection the following morning by the morgue attendant.

The mother was transferred to the post natal ward when she was stable. Later that morning, two relations of Suwaiba Mumuni arrived at the labor ward to collect her still born baby. They were told to go to the morgue for collection as bodies were not collected directly from the labor ward by relatives. However, when they arrived at the morgue, the attendant told them he was yet to collect the still born baby that morning. The morgue attendant then returned to the ward together with the relatives with the morgue records book for the collection of the still born baby.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press it was then noticed that the box containing the three still births had been taken away. The mortuary record book in the ward did not show any evidence of the bodies having been collected. The orderly on night shift on 4th to 5th of February 2014 was questioned of the where about of the bodies. He admitted he had moved the bodies to the incinerator for cremation.

He was asked to quickly bring them back as that is not the regular practice. According to the DDNS in charge, the orderly left and after a while returned to say that he left the box just in front of the door of the incinerator since the door was locked and it was not possible they were incinerated. The orderly in question has worked in the hospital for about 25 years but was only transferred to that Department barely three days when this incidence occurred.

The nurse in charge of labour and two other staff agreed to come very early in the morning of the 6th of February to meet the Orderly for further clarification. At about 6:30am of the 6 of February, the Orderly took them to the incinerator room but said he did not hand over the bodies to any specific person. On further questioning he then confirmed he had deposited the bodies at the entrance outside the incinerator room which was at the time locked up. The team requested for the incinerator room to be opened. On entering the room, there was no evidence of recent use of the incinerator. Also it was then confirmed that babies were not incinerated but that the incinerator was purposely for incineration of amputated limbs, placentas, syringes and needles. The box containing the still born babies was nowhere to be found.

The Nurses proceeded to report the Orderly to the security coordinator who then sent a security man with them to bring him from the ward for further questioning that produced the same answers from him.

The hospital officials present assured the family members that the orderly in question has been handed over to the police for further interrogation and that the hospital will also continue with its own investigation of this matter and the meeting was brought to an end.

Ladies and Gentlemen, during the investigation the committee found out that there was no efficient communication between the midwives and the doctors with doctors having oversight responsibility on their activities. Job descriptions were not clearly spelt out and new staff were not being supervised to ensure adherence to standard operation procedures. The channels of communication between the hospital and the media/ bereaved families are also not well defined allowing a lot of speculation in the media.

With all the narrations and findings the Ministry of Health has decided to take the following steps:

1. That with immediate effect the Board, Management and CEO of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to account for the corpse of the five (5) still born babies delivered on the said date with 14 working days for burial by the families.
2. The 58 year old orderly at the centre of the alleged disappearance of the still born baby delivered to Madam Suwaiba Mumuni at the KATH should be interdicted until investigations by the police are over.
3. The Midwife who delivered the alleged still born baby of Madam Suwaiba Mumuni at the labour ward of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital on the 5th of February 2014 should take her accumulated leave. The Ministry has referred her to the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee of the Nurses and Midwives Council for investigations of her professional conduct.
4. The Doctor on duty at the labour ward of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital who attended to Madam Suwaiba Mumuni from 4th to 5th February 2014 should also take her accumulated leave, his case has been referred to the Medical and Dental Council for study

We would like to use this opportunity to inform the general public and the media to examine redress in the handling of this case. The Ministry will leave no stone unturned until the truth is established.

We will ensure that every health facility delivers quality health care to the people of this country. As part of effort by the ministry to improve attitudes and behavioural change of health personnel

I have also requested the Regional Minister and Regional Police Commander in Ashanti Region to expedite action on the case of Assault on the three doctors who were attacked.

In addition also to expedite action on case involving orderly who picked the box with the three dead babies.

The Ministry wishes to commend the media for your effort in bringing to bare such unsavory actions.

Thank you for your attention and God Bless us all