Yunbow Michael Jordan, a principal community health nurse in Bonkro, Afram Plains South district, Eastern Region, faced a challenging situation when he had to assist a pregnant woman, Justina Kwame, in delivering her child. This occurred on December 29, 2023, at the CHPs compound facility, where the absence of a delivery bed prompted Nurse Jordan to transport the woman to Maame Krobo clinic in a tricycle.
Labor unexpectedly began during the journey at around 10:00 am. Undeterred by the lack of proper facilities, Nurse Yunbow Michael Jordan successfully delivered the baby boy in the tricycle.
Both mother and baby were then transferred to Maame Krobo clinic for further medical attention.
Also Read: Tyrone Marhguy wins American Math Olympiad awards
Nurse Jordan recounted the challenging circumstances, explaining, “They came to Bonkro to deliver, but we don’t have a delivery bed, so we were taking her to Krobo when labor set in, and I had to deliver her in the tricycle. We didn’t have water and other delivery items with us, but we managed. When we reached the next community, we requested water to keep both mother and baby clean.”
This incident sheds light on the healthcare challenges faced by communities in the Afram Plains South Area, characterized by poor roads and inadequate access to health facilities and midwives. Nurse Yunbow Michael Jordan, also a BSc. Public Health student nurse at Wisconsin International University College, has a history of such delivery interventions, having assisted a pregnant woman in labor in 2018 while en route to Dome, a remote community in the area.
Also Read: Five arrested in Fumso over alleged kidnapping of 4-year-old girl
The healthcare situation in the region is further highlighted by concerning statistics from the Eastern Regional Health Directorate, indicating 89 institutional maternal mortalities in 2021 and 62 cases recorded between January and September 2022. Dr. Winfred Ofosu, the Eastern Regional Health Director, expressed deep concern about the high number of maternal deaths, emphasizing their significant social implications for families and communities.
In response to this pressing concern, the Eastern Regional Health Directorate launched the “Zero Tolerance for Maternal Deaths” initiative in 2022, with the theme “Stop Preventable Maternal Deaths and Disability.” Dr. Ofosu stressed the preventable nature of many maternal deaths, citing issues such as blood shortages in health facilities and delays in transporting and referring pregnant women due to poor road networks and inadequate ambulances.
