Telecel Foundation Equips Kumasi South Hospital Neonatal Unit, Commits to Two-Year Support

Critical Equipment Arrives at Kumasi South Hospital

The Telecel Foundation has delivered essential newborn care equipment to the Pediatric Unit of Kumasi South Hospital in Asokwa Municipality, addressing a months-long crisis that forced staff to refer critical cases elsewhere. The donation includes two Firefly phototherapy machines, a digital infant weighing scale, and a radiant warmer—equipment urgently needed after the hospital's only life-support machine for premature babies became inoperative.

The intervention follows an April MyJoyOnline investigation that exposed severe equipment shortages and supply gaps threatening jaundiced and premature newborns at the facility. Kumasi South Hospital, which handles over 1,200 deliveries monthly, had been operating without adequate phototherapy or temperature-control equipment for an extended period.

Two-Year Partnership to Transform Neonatal Care

During a ceremony at the hospital, Telecel Ghana Chief Executive Officer Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai announced a two-year adoption Memorandum of Understanding under which the telecommunications company will fund a full renovation of the Neonatal Department and supply additional required equipment. "These are not just machines. They are lifelines for mothers and their babies who depend on this facility daily," she stated.

Dr. Rita Fosu Yeboah, Clinical Care Coordinator at Kumasi South Hospital, described the donation and partnership as "timely and transformative." With the new equipment in place, the facility can now treat more jaundiced and premature babies on-site rather than referring them to tertiary hospitals, reducing delays and improving survival chances. Hospital authorities expect the improvements to cut waiting times in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and decrease referrals to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

The Telecel Foundation will monitor the intervention's impact throughout the partnership period and continue assessing additional support needs at the facility.