Mafi Kumase: The Reproductive and Child Health Unit of the Mafi Kumase Health Centre has become a death trap and needs urgent renovation. The ceiling in the office used by nurses has deteriorated, peeling away significantly. Additionally, the shed where children and pregnant women are attended to suffers from severe leakage.
According to Ghana News Agency, these observations were made during a visit to the facility on Tuesday to determine if it was affected by the nationwide strike action by nurses and midwives. The timing of the visit coincided with heavy rainfall, which exposed the shed's vulnerability as it flooded due to the leaks.
In this challenging environment, nurses continued to serve patients, including attending to a sick child who was rushed in during the visit. The lack of adequate seating forced nurses to use a wooden bench while performing their duties.
A nurse expressed that the situation was not only frustrating but also 'dehumanising, disincentive and demoralizing.' She highlighted the risk posed by the deteriorating ceiling and woodwork, which threaten to collapse at any moment, endangering both staff and visitors.
The nurse also mentioned that prolonged sitting on the bench affects their spines, sometimes necessitating leaning against the wall for support. Despite these challenges, nurses at the facility remained on duty even amid the ongoing strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association.
