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Officials of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi say they are grappling with a worrying number of patients who are unable to settle their medical bills.

Such patients, mostly newly delivered mothers, come from poverty-stricken homes in the Ashanti Region and beyond.
Many of them, according to staff of the hospital, either extend their stay or flee the hospital premises to avoid footing medical expenses.

It was an emotional scene at the reception area of the MBU when the Ahafo Ano Premier Rural Bank PLC went to the rescue of such needy mothers of the unit by paying for the discharge of thirty (30) newly-delivered mothers who could not pay for their medical bills after delivery.

The mothers were also presented with diapers, baby wipers among others.
They also made a separate presentation of GHC 10,000 to 3 mothers for the payment of their wards medical bills at the Pediatric Unit of the MBU.

Some of them had spent about a week or two at the unit. Some too had spent about 3months at the facility.

Senior Nursing Officer at the Mothers and Baby Unit (MBU), Lydia Owusu Ansah who spoke to Despite Media Sampson Kwame Nyamekye said such patients continue to occupy bed-space after their discharge because they have no money to settle their bills.

She said some of them owed the facility ranging from Ghc 2,000 to as much as GGHC 8,000.

She noted that the gesture had brought a great relief to management and hospital staff, noting that this will create spaces to enable them to admit more patients.

Chief Executive Officer of the Ahafo Ano Premier Rural Bank PLC, Mr. Ernest Dankwah explained that the gesture is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the bank.

Mr Dankwa expressed concern about how mothers and their babies are exposed to other diseases after delivery at the house to their inability to pay their bills.

This and other reasons according to him inspired the hospital to come to the aid of these mothers.

He entreated other banks and institutions to emulate this gesture to help the less privileged the society.

Some of the beneficiaries also spoke to Peacefmonline appreciating the kind gesture of the bank.