West Gonja Hospital Recorded Zero Maternal Death In 2012

The West Gonja Hospital during last year did not record any maternal death whiles the skilled delivery has also increased to about 20% as compared to 2011. These were disclosed by the Medical Superintendent of the West Gonja hospital, Dr. Chrisantus Kubio, during a staff gathering at the hospital premises. The Northern part of the country was noted for high maternal death for the past years since the quality of health facilities in the metropolis are very limited. Dr. Kubio expressed optimism that these problems which are facing the Northern health sector will be solved in no time. �I hope and believe that the Gonja district will not record any maternal death this year and more years to come. By 2015, when Ghana is counting the significant contributors to the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals, West Gonja Hospital will not be left out,� he said. Adding: �We have worked under stressful conditions; increased workload, inadequate workforce, inadequate staff mix, to render quality service delivery for our clients who visit the hospital on daily basis.� Executive Secretary of Damongo diocesan health services, Rev. Tomgbyire Christina during her speech at the gathering, outlined some challenges the district was facing concerning health matters. �We are all aware of the challenges that face Catholic Health Association of Ghana (CHAG). One of them is low staff strength, of which West Gonja hospital is not exempted, and this puts a lot of pressure on the few dedicated professionals but despite all this, they (the staff) have also made some achievements as an institution to help citizens in the Northern sectors,� she said. Rev. Tomgbyire stated that by their training as health workers they are expected to render quality health care and this has to do with comprehensive service delivery at all time because their service users judge them by their performance. The Gonja hospital was established in 1950 as a clinic to provide health care services to the then workers of the brigade in Damongo, and in 1995 it was handed over to its current management, the diocese of Damongo and over the years the hospital has seen some impressive performance as well as being the only health service center for the people in the Gonja land.