Officials at the South Tongu District Hospital in Sogakope have expressed concerns over the rising cases of mothers abandoning their newborns due to unpaid medical bills, a situation that was highlighted during a charitable intervention by the Christian-based non-governmental organisation, MyHelp–YourHelp Foundation.
The foundation, on Boxing Day, settled outstanding delivery bills amounting to GH¢70,000 for over 100 nursing mothers at the facility, enabling them to be discharged and reunite with their families. This act of generosity came as part of the organisation’s 7th anniversary celebrations and its commitment to supporting vulnerable individuals in society.
Established in 2002 along the Accra–Lomé–Lagos Trans-ECOWAS Highway, the South Tongu District Hospital serves approximately 130,000 people in surrounding communities. With seven delivery rooms in its labour ward, the hospital records nearly 200 deliveries each month. However, unpaid bills remain a persistent challenge, often leading to heartbreaking scenarios where mothers leave their babies behind.
Samuel Omega, Head of Administration at the hospital, described the issue as frustrating, noting that the facility has over 100 outstanding bills on record.
“We have not less than 100 persons who owe bills on our records, so that’s quite frustrating for us,” he said.
“MyHelp–YourHelp Foundation is doing a very great thing today. We don’t often see this kind of assistance. Once in a while, individuals come and do something little, but we see that this is quite a big effort that will help.”
He added that abandoned babies are typically referred to the Department of Social Welfare for care, and cases of patients absconding after promising to return with payments are common.
“In fact, almost every day we have such cases of people who come in without money,” Omega explained.
Nicholas Cofie, President of MyHelp–YourHelp Foundation, emphasised the foundation’s mandate to promote good health and well-being, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. He was moved by the financial hardships faced by mothers post-childbirth, which can lead to delayed care or even loss of life for both mother and child.
“Most of the mothers have gone, leaving their babies at the ward. So we decided to come here to also give a helping hand to those mothers who delivered within the last few days,” Cofie said.
“You were all with us when we went to the maternity ward; we witnessed happiness on the faces of these mothers. Can you imagine being in a hospital for about 2-3 months after you have delivered, and then somebody comes from nowhere and says, I want to pay your bills, I want to give you a helping hand; I want to give you a bag of rice and hampers so you can celebrate Christmas?”
In addition to clearing the bills, the foundation donated GH¢10,000 to support a 54-year-old woman battling cancer at the hospital.
Beneficiary mothers expressed profound gratitude for the timely assistance.
“I am a Nigerian and I have just delivered. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this many gifts. I am overwhelmed,” a Nigerian woman, who had just given birth shared.