Thirty women who delivered at the Maternity Block of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital but could not afford the fees have been detained until they pay.
The Ghana News Agency found this out, on Monday, when the Women's Fellowship of Faith Foundation International, donated assorted food items valued at ?1.5 million to women on admission at the Block to commemorate the second anniversary of the association.
Nurses the GNA spoke to said the women owe amounts ranging from ?400,000 to ?1.5 million and appealed to the government, NGOs and churches to assist them.
They also expressed concern about their poor working conditions and shortage of health staff. Over 60 per cent of the hospital's full complement of nurses, have left for greener pastures over the last two years, they said.
The Maternity Block, which should have eight nurses at post everyday, now has two, caring for more than 40 pregnant women and those who have delivered, said a staff nurse.
"We are working under heavy stress and in deplorable conditions. The government and the sector Minister must adopt urgent measures to halt the brain drain," she said.
Ms Mary Dadzie, Principal Nursing Officer who received the items on behalf of the women on admission led members of the Fellowship which is known as "The Victorious Women of Faith," to distribute gifts to over 100 women on admission.
Mrs Theresa Beecham, President of the Fellowship, urged the women to study the word of God to avoid being exploited by "unscrupulous men of God" who take advantage of their ignorance and emotional weakness.
Mrs Adeline Twum, Vice President, called for measures to combat the "new wave of crime against women" and condemned the recent murder of women by their husbands on suspicion of infidelity.
She called on couples to be transparent to each other and advised especially the young ones to be patient and tolerant.
