First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has confirmed that the Rebecca Foundation under the Rebecca’s Special Initiative, which executed the Komfo Anokye Mother and Baby (M&B) Unit will embark on a similar project to construct an intensive Care Unit at the Children’s Block of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, in February this year.
The First Lady made the revelation last week Friday when she commissioned the newly constructed Mother and Baby Unit for the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi.
The about USD 2.5 million ultra-modern facility which has taken a record of 5- month to complete was spearheaded by Mrs. Akufo-Addo and her team following Multimedia’s Seth Kwame Boateng’s “Next to die” documentary on the deplorable conditions mothers and babies attending the hospital for healthcare were going through.
In her speech during the commissioning ceremony, the First Lady expressed her joy saying that she was proud and grateful for the support offered her and her foundation by the people of Ghana and from all walks of life to complete this project considering the shame and outrage regarding the vulnerabilities of mothers and children who used the old facility.
She noted that the “facility is a world class one” and more importantly, the only green hospital in Africa certified by EDGE a group affiliated to the IFC and World Bank.
She said that she “believes Ghana needs to go green in the construction of public facilities” to save money over the long term and help preserve our environment.
She expressed gratitude to all Ghanaians and friends of Ghana like the Japanese Government.
She particularly thanked the Second Lady, Mrs Samira Bawumia, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and Lady Julia, the Multimedia Group and Seth Kwame Boateng and the contractors, African Building Partners for the part each played.
Mrs. Akufo-Addo expressed her “hope is that projects like this, together with needed interventions like the elimination of mother to child HIV transmission, will get us closer to achieving our maternal and infant mortality goals.”
Story: Mizpah ETORMENYE MENSAVIE-AYIVOR
Writer’s email: Mizpah.mensavie-ayivor@todaygh.com