PRESS RELEASE: Controversy at 37 Military Hospital

GHANA ARMED FORCES PRESS RELEASE 
 Issued by the Public Relations Directorate, General Headquarters Burma Camp, Accra 
 Tel: 775665			Release No. 71			July 2002 
 

We refer to the 9th – 15th July 2002 Tuesday edition of your paper with a front page story headlined “CONTROVERSY AT 37 MILITARY HOSPITAL ………… Doctor Accused of Neglecting Pregnant Woman to bleed to Death” in which allegations were made against one Lt. Col (Dr.) Glawu, a gynaecologist at the 37 Military Hospital for allegedly “causing the death of a pregnant woman, Silvia Nyame, aged 34 years while she was in labour at the Hospital”.

Information received from the Military Hospital authorities indicate that Mrs. Sylvia Nyame was admitted to the Maternity Ward of 37 Military Hospital on 4 February 2002 at 8:00 PM with what they described as “INTRA UTERINE FOETAL death of 38 weeks gestation for induction of labour”. It is on record that she was a patient of Lt. Col Glawu and attended regular ante-natal clinic.

From the time of admission to the day of death, everything medically possible was done for the patient to be induced to have the dead baby delivered. At about 0153 hours labour progressed to the “delivery of a macerated male infant”. At 0155 hours the third stage was completed successfully after the placenta and membranes were completely expelled.

It is on record that the uterus was well contracted and firm and she was prepared for the ward after the baby was shown to her and she was reassured. It was however noticed that the patient started bleeding soon after and the Doctor’s attention was drawn.

He did everything medically possible to save the life of the patient but unfortunately at 0230 hours the patient expired.

The Hospital further indicates that the reported request by the husband, Mr. Young and the patient to have a caesarean operation was under the circumstances not the best option as the baby was already dead and there was “no obstetrics contra indication for spontaneous vaginal delivery”. Additionally, a Caesarean section would have exposed her to all the risks of surgery and also limit her reproductive future.

In as much as we regret the death of the patient, we wish to state that the medical staff conducted themselves professionally and did whatever was possible to save Mrs. Nyame’s life.

We wish to assure the public that the Military Hospital Staff are doing their best to serve the nation by providing safe and secure medicare and such unfortunate incidents should not be seen as “negligence” thereby creating bad blood between the hospital and its patients or individuals who are seeking quality health care.

The Military Hospital and indeed the Ghana Armed Forces with to express their condolences to the bereaved family for the loss of a loved one and assure them that the hospital would continue to offer quality health care to all Ghanaians who seek it.

EWK NIBO
Lt. Col
Director of Public Relations

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