No Show Over Missing Baby Saga

Suwaiba Abdul
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has extended the date to make public its decision on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) missing baby saga.

The MoH was supposed to communicate its decision on the next step to take in resolving the issue of the said missing baby last Thursday, 20 March, but has  rescheduled the date to Tuesday, 25 March, 2014, due to the inability of the Nurses and Midwifery Council to submit their report to the Ministry on time.

A release signed by MoH Public Relations Officer, Tony Goodman, said the management of the hospital and the Medical and Dental Council had already submitted their reports with the exception of the Nurses and Midwives Council of Ghana.

It however, stated that the Council had informed the Ministry about the cause of the delay and had promised to do so not later than Monday, March 24, 2014.

'The Ministry of Health apologizes for its inability to communicate its decision and findings as promised earlier this week on the alleged missing baby saga that occurred some few weeks ago at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

'We will like to assure the general public that our decision would be announced by Tuesday, 25 March, 2014 at 3:00 pm in the Ministry's Conference Room upon receipt of the Council's report,' it stated.

Ms. Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Health, after reviewing the report of the three- member committee set up to investigate the issue, gave an ultimatum of 14 working days for the management of KATH to account for the corpses of the five still born babies delivered on the said date for 'burial by the families'.

The Minister also asked the midwife who delivered the alleged still born babies to take her leave while her case was referred to the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee of the Nurses and Midwives Council of Ghana for investigations on her personal conduct.

It will be recalled that some weeks ago, the baby of one, Suwaibatu Abdul Mumin - who was purportedly delivered still-born - was reported missing after delivery.

The body of the said still-born baby could not be traced as the hospital authorities claimed it had been burnt; but family members insisted the baby was not dead and were therefore requiring the hospital to produce it.

This is the third time a baby has gone missing at KATH as two mothers have also reported the same incidence.

 By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri