Ms. Comfort Neequaye, a midwife at Margaret Marquart Catholic Hospital in Kpando, Ghana, has emerged as the 2nd Best Nurse/Midwife for the Volta/Oti Region. She received this recognition for her innovative approaches to improving newborn care and medication safety. The award was presented at the Regional Awards ceremony held on September 30, as part of the Nurses and Midwives Week celebration organized by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).
Ms. Neequaye's innovations include improvising diapers as baby caps to prevent hypothermia and improving medication administration through a standardized Light Wave Health Information Management System (LHIMS) medication entry template. Her work addresses significant challenges in newborn care and medication safety. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), newborns, especially preterm babies, are unable to regulate body temperature effectively after birth, making interventions like Ms. Neequaye's crucial.
The concept behind Ms. Neequaye's first innovation, “Turning Necessity into Innovation,” involves using clean, unused newborn diapers as temporary caps until standard caps are available. This practical, low-cost solution is particularly beneficial in resource-limited settings where mothers may arrive in labor without adequate birth preparedness or financial resources. Her initiative aims to reduce the risk of hypothermia, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns.
Ms. Neequaye's second innovation, titled “From Digital Challenge to Safer Care,” focuses on reducing medication errors through an improved medication-entry template on the LHIMS. This template simplifies the process of selecting correct medication, dosage, frequency, and timing, thereby minimizing errors and delays in pharmacy dispensing. Her work has significantly enhanced patient safety and streamlined medication administration processes.
The Regional Awards ceremony, part of the Nurses and Midwives Week celebration, recognizes outstanding contributions by nurses and midwives in the Volta/Oti Region. Ms. Neequaye's achievement is a testament to her dedication and commitment to improving healthcare outcomes. She was awarded a citation, a medal, and a double-door fridge with a dispenser for her innovations.
In response to her award, Ms. Neequaye expressed gratitude to her colleagues, mentors, and loved ones for their support and encouragement. She emphasized the importance of teamwork and continuous learning in the nursing profession. Ms. Neequaye's recognition serves as an inspiration to her peers and underscores the impact that dedicated healthcare professionals can have on patient care and safety.
The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) organizes the Nurses and Midwives Week celebration annually to mark International Nurses Day, observed globally on May 12. This year's celebration included the Regional Awards ceremony, which highlighted the achievements of exceptional nurses and midwives like Ms. Comfort Neequaye. The event aims to promote excellence in nursing practice and encourage innovation in healthcare delivery.
Key points
- Ms. Comfort Neequaye, a midwife at Margaret Marquart Catholic Hospital, has been recognized as the 2nd Best Nurse/Midwife for the Volta/Oti Region for her innovations in newborn care and medication safety.
