The maternity block at Ghana’s premier Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has become a death trap for pregnant and nursing mothers due to its deteriorating condition, posing a looming danger to their safety.
Despite being in use for nearly five decades, the facility has not seen significant renovations, and hospital officials have shown little concern for the building’s critical state, endangering the lives of expectant and nursing mothers who rely on it for healthcare.
Multiple complaints, particularly from pregnant and nursing mothers, have been made about the extensive cracks and fragility of the building. These concerns have been brought to the hospital authorities, but they have consistently fallen on deaf ears. The severity of the cracks has reached a point where those visiting the facility, especially expectant mothers, fear for their safety.
The deteriorating condition of the building has led to the removal of most mosquito nets, forcing patients to bring their own nets to protect their babies from mosquito bites and other dangerous insects and reptiles that have infested the maternity block.
Furthermore, the toilets within the block are in deplorable and unsanitary conditions, making them uncomfortable for mothers to use. The toilet seats, plumbing, and drainage systems are in terrible disrepair. Additionally, many of the floor tiles in the block have been in a state of disrepair for several years, receiving no attention or maintenance.
