The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has donated midwifery training equipment worth about Thirty Thousand United States Dollars ($30,000) to the Midwifery Skills Laboratory of the Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences (CHS) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.
The donation included a range of equipment such as thermometers, cervical dilation and effacement models, a cardiotocography machine, a multipurpose manual obstetric bed, delivery trolleys, weighing scales, birth stimulators, 4-panel examination screens, drip stands, stethoscopes, uterine sound and dilator, scissors and needle holders, MVA kits, hot water bottles, suction machines, mobile examination lamps, and forceps, among others.
As part of the donation programme, the delegation led by the UNFPA Deputy Representative, Dr. Emmily Naphambo paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor at the Council Chamber.
According to Dr. Emmily Naphambo, the donation formed part of her outfit’s mandate to support at least 20 midwifery schools to enhance teaching and learning. She explained UNFPA’s role as a UN agency working towards responsible reproductive health in member nations with a target to achieve zero maternal death by 2030. She assured of their continuous support to enhance efforts at subduing maternal deaths and morbidity in Ghana. ‘’As long as women continue to die, UNFPA will continue to ensure zero maternal death by 2030’, she emphasised.
Dr. Emmily noted that the Fund and its partners will continue with the provision of relevant support including technical and capacity-building trainings and maternal healthcare to ensure safe childbirth in Ghana.
In his remarks, the Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the Ministry of Health, Ghana, Dr. Barnabas Yeboah identified capacity building as an important factor for quality maternal care in Ghana. He applauded the Management of KNUST for supporting the Ministry in providing these trainings to students in Affiliate Health Training Colleges. To this end, Dr. Yeboah further appealed to local and external organisations to offer support in the development of relevant curricula for postgraduate programmes for Nurses and Midwives in Ghana.
The training equipment was received by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson and the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Christian Agyare.
The Vice-Chancellor lauded the delegation for their thoughtful donation and deemed it a timely intervention as it would enhance teaching and learning. She revealed that the items donated would go a long way to train and build the skills of students and faculty to improve maternal healthcare delivery in Ghana.
Professor (Mrs.) Dickson expressed excitement for the partnership that exists between both institutions since 2011 and hoped for continuous collaboration.
