Dr Elikem Oklu, an obstetrician-gynaecologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, has urged student nurses and midwives to translate their classroom learning and clinical knowledge into prompt and appropriate action to prevent maternal and neonatal deaths. He made the call at a health conference organised by the Mama Cares by Racheal Foundation for students of the Korle-Bu Nursing and Midwifery Training College in Accra. The conference aimed to educate students on maternal and neonatal mortality, medical negligence, professionalism, and ethics in nursing and midwifery practice.
Dr Oklu emphasised that delays in recognising complications, initiating treatment, and referring patients could have fatal consequences. He highlighted the importance of effective communication, vigilant patient monitoring, and prompt action in preventing avoidable deaths. Dr Oklu also stressed the need for health professionals to recognise danger signs, monitor patients closely, and escalate concerns promptly rather than wait for their conditions to deteriorate.
The conference brought together health and legal professionals to discuss critical issues in maternal and neonatal care. Dr Oklu encouraged health facilities to review maternal deaths not merely to apportion blame but to identify weaknesses in clinical practice and institutional arrangements and use the findings to improve care. He also emphasised the importance of effective referral systems, teamwork, and open communication in ensuring that patients receive quality care.
Mrs Racheal Hesse Matey, a midwife and Chief Executive Officer of the Mama Cares by Racheal Foundation, urged the students to demonstrate competence, professionalism, and compassion in their practice. She emphasised that the public had high expectations of healthcare professionals and that nurses and midwives must continually improve their knowledge and skills to provide quality care.
Mrs Matey shared her professional experience, recounting a case in which a delay in responding to an obstetric complication resulted in the loss of a baby. She underscored the importance of monitoring patients closely, recognising changes in their conditions, and seeking assistance promptly when necessary. Mrs Matey cautioned against distractions and inattentiveness while on duty, noting that seemingly minor observations could help identify complications before they became life-threatening.
Mrs Matey urged the students to uphold respectful maternity care and ensure that every woman was treated with dignity throughout pregnancy, labour, and the postnatal period. She emphasised that healthcare professionals’ responsibilities extended beyond performing clinical procedures to providing attentive, compassionate, and timely care. Mrs Matey also urged the students to embrace ethical practice, accountability, and teamwork in their practice.
The student nurses and midwives were encouraged to remain committed to learning and recognise that patients were increasingly informed about their health and the services they received. Mrs Matey urged them to remain observant, listen carefully to patients, communicate respectfully, and take their concerns seriously. By doing so, they can provide quality care and strengthen public confidence in the health system.
Key points
- Dr Elikem Oklu urges student nurses and midwives to prioritise effective communication and vigilant patient monitoring.
- Mrs Racheal Hesse Matey emphasises the importance of competence, professionalism, and compassion in nursing and midwifery practice.
- The conference aimed to educate students on maternal and neonatal mortality, medical negligence, professionalism, and ethics in nursing and midwifery practice.
