St. Martin De Porres Hospital designated as Baby Friendly

Agomanya, Oct 14, GNA- Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, Eastern Regional Director of Health Services, on Tuesday announced the designation of Saint Martin De Porres Hospital as a baby friendly hospital.

He called on individuals and non-governmental organisations to assist in the promotion of the well being of babies by encouraging exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of the baby's life. "Designating this hospital as a baby friendly calls for changes in knowledge, attitude and practices of health providers and managers regarding exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months," Dr Appiah-Denkyirah said in a speech read for him. The designation brings to 27 the number of baby friendly hospitals in the region.

St Martin Hospital, established in 1946 as a clinic and upgraded to a hospital in April 1997, has 85 beds with 86 medical and non-medical staff

Dr Appiah-Denkyira said research has proved that breast milk contains all the essential nutrients that the child needs for a proper, uniform growth and development both mentally, psychologically, socially and physically.

Dr Charles Nyarko, Medical Officer in charge of the hospital, said the hospital faces constraints such as inadequate staff, lack of vehicles to respond to emergencies, and lack of funds to construct new blocks.

He appealed to the government to help to complete the construction of a drainage project that was started in September last year and abandoned.

"The drainage has been a threat to the surgical block and whenever it rains people are unable to cross to the hospital for medical care," he said.

Mr Andrews Kwesi Teye, Manya Krobo District Chief Executive, pledged the assembly's support in maintaining health infrastructure in the district.

He said the assembly has approved 40 million cedis for the construction of a morgue for the hospital to serve the area and appealed to other benevolent organisations to assist the assembly to provide an ambulance service for the district.