The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) recorded significant improvement in neonatal mortality in the first half of 2018.

CEO of the Hospital, Dr Oheneba Owusu-Danso has attributed the development to the inauguration of the new Mother and Baby Unit built with the support of The Multimedia Group and the Rebecca Akuffo-Addo Foundation.

According to him, the Unit recorded 208 deaths representing 11.3% compared to the 294 deaths recorded over the same period in 2017.

Speaking at the mid-year review of the hospital, Dr Owusu-Danso said he is happy with the gains made so far.

A JoyNews Special Assignment documentary by Seth Kwame Boateng highlighted the needless deaths of mothers and babies at the hospital mainly due to congestion is the reason this facility has been built to save lives.

The ultramodern Mother and Baby Unit at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital houses the Maternity, Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care units.

Named after the late Asantehemaa, the Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem Centre which has a total built area of 2,722 square meters, provides the staff and patients with adequate space for different types of procedures.

The facility became operational in March.            

Authorities at the Hospital say the centre is making a positive impact in the delivery of maternal and antenatal services.

"The centre is already beginning to make the expected positive intervention in the delivery of maternal and antenatal care at the hospital with an almost consistent drop in monthly neonatal mortality rate, Dr Oheneba Owusu-Danso said.

Dr Owusu-Danso has further advocated the strengthening of specialist services at peripheral hospitals especially in district hospitals.

The hospital also saw  a reduction in the death of pre-term babies from 114 in 2017, representing 12.3%.

Four hundred and 94 of such cases were admitted in 2017, compared to 516 cases admitted in 2018.

Maternal mortality figures compiled between May and July this year saw comparable decrease from 25 in 2017 to 22 in 2018.

Dr Owusu-Danso blames high maternal mortality figures on unimproved obstetrics and gynaecological services at peripheral hospitals.

"As I have stated in various fora, it is time for critical analysis on maternal mortality and this must lead to strengthening specialist services in the obstetrics outcomes."

According to him, the facility has helped curbed the situation where pregnant mothers queue for surgeries and delivery, reducing waiting time in the process.