KATH Missaing baby: Health Minister directs CEO of KATH to proceed on leave

• Posted on March 26, 2014March 26, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Minister of Health, Sherry Ayittey has directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) to proceed on leave “with immediate effect.”

This follows the hospital’s inability to produce the bodies of three missing babies as directed by the Ministry.

The hospital’s board has been subsequently directed by the Ministry to appoint “a senior person in management to take over from him and inform the Ministry accordingly.”

The Health Ministry had given the authorities of KATH, a 14-day ultimatum to produce the bodies of some three dead babies that went missing on February 5.

The family of one of the babies, Suwaiba Mumin had threatened legal action against the hospital if the baby is not found dead or alive.

Announcing the measures against the hospital at a press conference on Tuesday, Ms Ayittey disclosed that the hospital could not prove that the bodies of the dead babies were properly disposed off.

“Stillborns are to be discharged to the mortuary attendants who book it in the mortuary register, but there is no evidence that this was carried out. Still-birth babies should have been certified by a doctor that the baby is actually dead, but there was no evidence to that effect”

The Minister further directed that both the doctor and mid-wife on duty on February 5 should remain on leave until the Medical and Dental Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council submit their report not later than April 15.

Meanwhile, Sherry Ayitey said the government will be meeting the mother at the center of the tussle, Suwaiba Mumin to reach an amicable solution.

“The Ministry is in a process of facilitating a meeting with Madam Suwaiba, her lawyer and family to find an amicable settlement to the unfortunate incidence,” she said.

By: Eugenia Tenkorang