MTN Foundation's 60-bed maternity facility transforms childbirth care in Keta

The Keta Municipal Hospital is experiencing a significant transformation in maternal and neonatal healthcare following the commissioning of a 60-bed maternity and child health block built and equipped by the MTN Ghana Foundation. Since the facility opened its doors in March 2024, it has fundamentally changed how expectant mothers and newborns receive care in the municipality and surrounding communities.

According to hospital administrator Farouk Iddrisu, the new block has directly contributed to measurable improvements in health outcomes. Over the past two years, more than 25,000 pregnant women have accessed antenatal care at the facility, whilst approximately 6,000 expectant mothers have been admitted for delivery and related maternal health services. Critically, the hospital has recorded only four maternal deaths during this period—a dramatic reduction from the situation before the facility's completion.

Neonatal care has similarly benefited. The hospital has managed more than 3,000 newborn admissions with only eight neonatal deaths recorded, indicating improved survival rates for vulnerable infants.

From overcrowding to modern facilities

Prior to the MTN Foundation's intervention, the maternity ward operated under severe constraints. The original facility was chronically overcrowded, forcing expectant mothers to labour and recover in difficult conditions with limited privacy and inadequate equipment. The new 60-bed block has eliminated these challenges by providing separate wards for different conditions—a critical improvement that ensures greater privacy, strengthens infection prevention protocols and enhances overall quality of care.

The facility now includes dedicated emergency obstetric care capabilities, featuring an in-house operating theatre. This eliminates the dangerous delays previously caused by transferring patients requiring surgical intervention to distant facilities. Such delays can be life-threatening in obstetric emergencies, making this addition particularly significant for maternal and infant survival.

Midwife Mawuli Leticia Foli highlighted how the spacious environment and separation of patient cases has revolutionised service delivery. Beyond clinical improvements, the facility offers enhanced amenities—clean washrooms, adequate beds and a more patient-friendly atmosphere—that contribute to the psychological wellbeing of mothers during what is often a vulnerable time.

Why it matters for Ghana

Maternal and neonatal mortality remain significant public health challenges across Ghana. The Keta example demonstrates how targeted infrastructure investment in maternal health can deliver rapid, measurable improvements in outcomes. The hospital's data shows that access to quality facilities directly increases antenatal attendance and admission rates—indicating that mothers trust and utilise modern healthcare environments.

The project also illustrates the potential of corporate social responsibility partnerships in strengthening Ghana's healthcare system. With the health sector facing resource constraints, such collaborations can accelerate the upgrade of critical facilities, particularly in municipalities where maternal and neonatal care urgently needs improvement. The success in Keta has prompted calls from healthcare staff for similar investments in other facilities across the municipality, suggesting this model could be replicated elsewhere.

For Ghana's efforts to achieve sustainable development goals related to maternal and child health, investments like this maternity block represent practical, evidence-based approaches that save lives whilst improving the dignity and comfort of patients and staff alike.