Imperial Charity Foundation (ICF), a Ghanaian charity foundation, has refurbished the first floor of the Maternity Ward of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) at a cost of $250,000.

The gesture was part of the foundation's efforts to improve quality maternal health care at the hospital.

The floors of the facility were tiled and each room was provided with flat screen television sets with Multi TV decoders.

The Director of ICF, Nana Ansah Kwao IV, stated that childbirth was a gift from God, hence the need for mothers to, have access to quality facilities to enable them to deliver safely.

That, he said, informed the organisation's decision to renovate the maternity ward of the hospital, adding that "the company also provided the ward with television sets and air conditioners."

The Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at KBTH, Professor Samuel Amenyi Obed, advised health personnel, especially nurses to treat patients with care and compassion and empathise with them to enhance quality health care.

He said that was necessary to dispel the notion that some nurses did not give adequate care and attention to patients, a notion that prevents people from going to the hospital.

The occasion was used to honour a 95-year-old midwife who had contributed immensely to midwifery in the country.

Madam Mary Opoku Agyemang, who started her midwifery service in 1950, called for a strong efficient referral system as a step to curb maternal mortality.

Maintenance culture

In her address, a Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs Dela Sowah, commended the ICF for its immense contribution towards the hospital and urged nurses at the maternity ward to be good ambassadors of the profession.

Last year, GHȻ117,000 was used to settle outstanding school fees of some children at the Dzorwulu Special School by the foundation.

It also built a school for a community called Hokpo in Pokuase where teching and learning used to take place under trees.