Three Die in Child Birth Monthly At Redemption Hospital

Authorities of the Redemption Hospital in the Borough of New Kru Town say at least three women die monthly in childbirth in the hospital. According to the Liberia News Agency (LINA), the hospital’s Nursing Director, Melvin Johnson attributed the deaths to complications during delivery.

Nursing Director Johnson told the Liberia News Agency Wednesday that the victims are usually brought to the hospital in critical condition from other health facilities in Montserrado and other counties.

He explained that nurses at the hospital sometimes find it difficult to safely deliver babies because pregnant women are usually brought there under emergency condition. Mr. Johnson called on pregnant women to immediately go to hospital when they are in birth pain, rather than wait until their condition gets serious.

He stressed that the Redemption Hospital, the only government referral hospital on Bushrod Island, is succeeding in reducing maternal mortality in the country. The health official disclosed that the hospital delivers over 300 pregnant women daily, adding that most of the women come from Lower Montserrado, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount and Gbarpolu counties.

In a related development, the Supervisor of the OB Ward, Yamah Lapelleh Siafa, has identified the lack of beds as one of the major constraints hampering the smooth operation of the hospital.

She said two patients are currently assigned to one bed, noting that although such practice was unprofessional, the hospital does not deem it prudent to turn away patients, especially when there are in critical condition.