The Cape Coast Teaching hospital says it has recorded a decline in maternal and infant mortality cases since the handing over of a blood bank to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit of the Hospital by the MTN Ghana Foundation in 2021.
Speaking to a delegation from MTN who visited the facility recently to access its impact, the acting Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Dr Stephen Laryeh said: “We are grateful to the Foundation for coming to our aid with this blood bank. Since the provision of facility in 2021, maternal mortality, resulting from blood issues has reduced by about 20 percent. Hemorrhage which was the highest cause of maternal mortality has reduced.”
On his part, the Senior Manager for South West Business District of MTN Ghana, Prince Owusu-Nyarko said: “We are happy the facility is helping improve health care delivery at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. The establishment of this facility for the hospital and the people of Cape Coast is a proof of the Foundation’s commitment to brighten lives and to mobilize blood to save lives.”
He encouraged the hospital authority to continuous to take good care of the facility for posterity.
The facility has a reception area, an office for staff, a donor lounge, a bleeding room, a laboratory and a fridge room. It has a storeroom, a washroom, and locally fabricated donation couches. The project was constructed at total cost of Ghc 300,000 and handed over to the Management of the hospital in June 2021.
The MTN Ghana Foundation has over the years remained committed to mobilizing blood to restock National Blood Services and blood banks in major hospitals across the country through its ‘Save a Life’ blood donation exercise. To date, over 20,000 units of blood have been collected since the inception of the initiative in 2011.
The blood donation exercise has been put temporarily on hold as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and is yet to resume.
In recognition of its efforts, the MTN Ghana Foundation was adjudged the highest Corporate blood donor in 2013, second highest corporate donor in 2014 and one of the highest corporate donors in 2015 by the National Blood Services. The MTN Ghana Foundation has initiated and completed over 53 health projects since its inception.
The MTN Ghana Foundation was established in November 2007 as the vehicle to select and implement MTN’s Corporate Social Investments. MTN Ghana Foundation has three areas of focus -Health, Education and Economic Empowerment. From its inception to date, the Foundation has undertaken 158 major projects across the country.
Notable health projects include construction of a Neonatal Care Center for Tamale Teaching Hospital, refurbishment of the 2nd floor maternity block of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, construction of a maternity block for Ejisu Government Hospital, and construction of an Emergency Center for Atua Government Hospital.
Education projects undertaken include construction of a boys dormitory for Akropong School for the Blind, construction of a six-unit classroom block for Kodjonya Millennium School, establishment of 10 MTN ICT Learning Centers in each of Ghana’s 10 regions and the institution of an Innovation Hub at KNUST to promote Telecoms Engineering and Research.
Key projects undertaken in Economic Empowerment include the construction of shea butter processing centers, provision of seed capital and skill training for Women of Tizaa Dini Association of Yendi and the Sung Suma Women Association of Wa.
