The Nkosuohene of Kwahu Nkwatia, also known as the Founder of the Kabaka Foundation, Nana Owiredu Wadie I, has completed and officially handed over a versatile Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Complex to the Eastern Regional Health Directorate on September 28th, 2023.
The newly constructed NICU Unit consists of four main components:
- The Yaa Boatemma Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, comprising High dependency, low dependency, stable, and isolation wards, providing a total of 80 beds.
- The NOW 1 Kangaroo Mother Care Excellence Centre, including an inpatient adaptation ward with a capacity of 10 beds and an outpatient unit accommodating 30 individuals.
- The Yaa Boatemma Conference Centre, capable of hosting up to 50 people at once.
- The Opanyin Kwame Wadie Mother Hostel, equipped with 40 beds.
Commissioning this project at the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua as part of his birthday celebration, Nana Owiredu Wadie I expressed his deep concern about the high infant mortality rate in Ghana, with 31 infants per every 1,000 live births succumbing due to inadequate modern facilities for children. To address this issue, he collaborated with the Ghana Health Service in the Eastern region to build the NICU Unit, fulfilling his promise to the hospital.
Furthermore, on the occasion of his birthday and as the founder of the Kabaka Foundation, Nana Owiredu Wadie I pledged to continue their charitable efforts by covering the medical bills of mothers in the Children’s ward who face difficulties in paying their expenses.
Nana Owiredu Wadie (I) suggested naming the newly constructed NICU Unit at the Eastern Regional Hospital after Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III, the Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area.
Dr. Ebo Hammond, representing the Director General of Ghana Health Service, commended Nana Owiredu Wadie I for his collaboration in building this vital facility for vulnerable children. He emphasized the significance of NICU Units in hospitals for saving the lives of newborns, especially considering the Eastern region’s higher-than-national neonatal mortality rate of 7.8 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Dr. Akoto Ampaw, the Medical Director of Eastern Regional Hospital, highlighted the increasing demand for NICU services at the hospital, leading to overcrowding in the previous NICU facility.
Seth Kwame Acheampong, the Eastern Regional Minister, expressed regret over the loss of many children in the region due to inadequate NICU care. He praised Nana Owiredu Wadie for offering hope for the future.
Dr. Winfred Ofosu, the Eastern Regional Director of Health, emphasized that having a modern NICU Unit in a regional hospital for the first time in the Eastern region would improve access to newborn care. This development would eliminate the challenges faced by mothers and families when transporting preterm babies over long distances to hospitals like Kole-bu or Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. He further noted that Nana Owiredu Wadie I’s NICU Unit would contribute significantly to saving newborns and reducing maternal deaths in the region.