As part of Ashanti Development’s ‘Develop A Ward’ project, Softwire has helped to build a much-needed Mothers and Babies Unit (MBU) in Mampong Maternity Hospital, Ghana.
The construction included the demolition, renovation and reconstruction of the old hospital kitchen and café. An ambulance bay and a mothers’ waiting area were also created. The cost of the construction, totalling £27,000, was covered by donations from Softwire’s fundraising activities.
The project started in April 2021, and the new building was formally opened on July 23, 2022. A host of guests, including the Hon Thomas Appiah Kubi, Mampong Municipal Chief Executive, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The new MBU answers Mampong’s and more than 10 surrounding districts’ vital need for critical care for infants and babies. Previously, preterm babies and other infants needing critical care had to be transported to Komfo Anokye Hospital, which is over 100km away from some of these districts, and most babies did not survive the journey.
With the new unit, the Mampong Maternity Hospital catchment area has been extended to include Pru West, Pru East, Sekyere Central, Sekyere South, Sekyere Afram Plains, Ejura Sekye Odumasi, Nkronsa South and many other districts to the north of Ashanti and part of the Bobo East regions.
Dr. Kwasi Baffour Gyimah, Medical Superintendent at Asante Mampong Government Hospital, estimates that the new unit could potentially save hundreds of babies’ lives a year. He said the MBU will “serve an essential part in the provision of accessible, equitable and world-class healthcare to the catchment area of the hospital and beyond”.
Alice Wenban, Corporate Social Responsibility Officer at Softwire, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to see the Mothers and Babies unit completed and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help this community. It’s crucial that mothers experiencing a difficult birth, and babies that need additional care, can be helped as quickly as possible.
“Thank you to the whole team at Ashanti Development that helped us make a difference and continue to do such great work.”
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Notes to editor
While Softwire funded the building materials and construction, new equipment, like incubators, beds and cots, was generously donated by other organisations.
Please credit Ashanti Development for all the photos.
About Ashanti Development
Ashanti Development is a UK-based charity founded by Ghanaians in London wanting to help their impoverished home villages. Its mission is to improve lives of people in villages in the Ashanti region of Ghana, starting with sanitation, hygiene training and clean water. Once these are in place for a village, the charity also provides support in other areas including healthcare, education and income generation.
In 2020, Ashanti Development started the ‘Develop A Ward’ programme to aid Mampong Hospital, which is under-funded and seriously under-resourced. At the hospital’s request and direction, they have since renovated several wards and added a Mothers and Babies Unit.
About Mampong Maternity Hospital
Mampong Maternity Hospital was established in 1954 by Anglican Missionaries. Since then, the government added a general wing in 1973. In the past, government instability and change had created cuts to the hospital’s funding, which meant that the hospital was seriously under-resourced.
The Hospital is in the Mampong Municipal District of Ashanti. It has 55 beds catering for 2000 deliveries a year and serves over 100,000 people.
About Softwire
Softwire is one of the UK’s leading software development consultancies, offering consultancy, bespoke software development and support.
Individually and collectively, we really care about doing a good job. We sweat every detail but never forget the big picture. We are always trying to improve what we do and how we do it. When we notice something could be better, we do something about it.
