A pregnant woman believed to have come from Zagyuri in the Sagnarigu district of the northern region met her untimely death during delivery at the Tamale Central Hospital due to unavailability of ambulance service in Tamale at that critical moment.
The woman who was sent to the hospital with HB level 2 did not survive as doctors at the Central hospital made frantic efforts to transport her to the Tamale Teaching hospital for special care.
According to the Central Hospital authorities, the national ambulance was not available to help the expectant mother.
Hospital authorities said that for years now, they have been making appeals to the Tamale Central MP who doubles as Roads and Highway Minister, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini and philanthropists for an ambulance but to no avail.
The roads minister, in whose constituency the hospital is situated, is noted for his generosity in donating ambulances to institutions that need them.
Alhaji Fuseini, since the beginning of this year, has donated ambulances to Afa Ajura, the Tamale Central and the Masjidul Bayaan mosques all in Tamale.
The medical superintendent at the Tamale hospital, Dr Mahamadu Mbinwaya who disclosed the unfortunate death of the pregnant woman to Zaa News Thursday morning said examination of the woman indicated that the, woman was malnourished during her pregnancy.
She was brought to the hospital in an anemic state, and her palms were very white, Dr Mbinwaya said. The woman’s death was just one of several cases the hospital has been battling with in its efforts to provide health care amidst the lack of an ambulance.
Dr Mbinwaya was not happy that some pregnant women refuse to adhere to doctors’ advice after they visit antenatal unit for checkups.
He expressed worry about some pregnant women who still do not want to attend antenatal clinics to ensure safe delivery and urged husbands to encourage their wives to attend antenatal care.
In July alone, the hospital recorded over 302 deliveries. Over 2000 pregnant women visit the hospital and over 24,000 women deliver at the facility annually.
