MTN Launches Health Flagship Project

Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN), Ghana’s number one mobile telephony company has once again reaffirmed its commitment to the society with the launch of yet another ground breaking project – the MTN Ghana Foundation Health Flagship Project. The MTN Foundation Health Flagship Project was launched at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. The Foundation also launched a project to refurbish the second floor of the hospital’s maternity block labour ward and theatre in pursuant of MTN’s corporate responsibility. The US$600,000 project is expected to be completed in six months. The project on completion will bring remarkable improvement to the second floor of the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital Maternity Block. In a welcome address, Ms. Mawuena Dumor, Executive Secretary of the Foundation, said MTN set up the Foundation and brought in distinguished Ghanaians to help achieve the company’s aims of enriching the communities where they operate. She also said, the hospital’s maternity block was chosen because they want to help in the efforts to cut down infant mortality in the country. Minister of Health, Major (rtd) Courage Quashigah said government is working hard to reduce infant mortality rates in the country to reflect current developments in the country. The situation in Ghana currently is 540 deaths in every 100,000 births, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). He compared figures in the developing world to that of the developed world. In the developed world, there is one death in every 1800 births, whereas in the developing countries there is one death in every 40 births. He also said the government is working at a comprehensive abortion services in line with the country’s laws. The minister said more younger midwives are being trained to take over from the older ones. The Acting Chief Administrator of the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. B. D. R. T. Annan, who was full of gratitude to MTN said the hospital has not been able to refurbish the block due to cash flow problems. He was optimistic that when the project is completed, it will shorten treatment time, there will be more room and comfort for patients, surgeries will increase above the current 12 a week and “male partners will be invited to witness deliveries as it is done elsewhere,” he said. The Chairperson of the Women's Caucus of Parliament, Mrs. Gifty Kusi whose efforts led to the adoption of the ward and theatre for rehabilitation by MTN, in her address showered gratitude on MTN and made an appeal for a concerted effort to work towards gender issues in the country to improve the lot of Ghanaian women and children.