The Greatest Mother’s Day Gift
After a long hot, nine months, there is no greater relief and accomplishment than delivering a healthy baby. Maybe this is the first of what you hope will be a large and happy family. Maybe this is your last. Perhaps due to complications and circumstances beyond your control, this will be the only baby you will ever carry and give birth to. Regardless of what the future may bring, nothing can douse your joy and pride as you show off the newest object of all your affection to everyone in attendance at your bedside.
After spending two days in the hospital recovering, you prepare to go home and dutifully gather your belongings so that the next patient can occupy the spot you once had.
“Visiting hours are between 9 am and 8 pm,” you are told. “You may come and visit with your baby then.”
You nod your head in understanding, bestow a sweet kiss upon your newborn as he slumbers (because as you know, that’s pretty much all they do the first days of life), and walk about of the hospital facility alone; or with your husband; perhaps with a friend or relative who may be by your side…whomever you leave with does not matter. There is still a crushing weight in your chest. You leave the hospital without your newest love not because you’re abandoning him/her, or even because they’re sick. It’s simply because, today, you cannot afford to pay what it cost to bring them into this world, and the hospital will not let him/her come home until you have.
Traditionally, a Ghanaian woman would prepare to have her child out-doored on the seventh day following the delivery of her child. The family would wake up at dawn and invite loved-ones and neighbors to witness in the event and offer congratulations and advice. On the seventh day of the unfortunate women in the scenario before, there will be no unusual sounds in her home. Perhaps the blare of the radio will keep her company, perhaps only the sounds of live stock outside. It really just depends on where you live. Instead of coos of admiration for her newborn, her neighbors and loved ones come by to offer clicks of sympathy and confirm her gloom in how unfair it all is.
This Mother’s Day, however, you our partners have gladdened the hearts of four very grateful mothers. Thanks to our “Send a Child home for Mother’s Day” drive, this Sunday, the following four kids were able to go home and sleep by the sides of their parents for the first time since they made their entrance at Korle-Bu hospital:
Baby Blessing Chukuu, age 6 weeks
Was on admission for 14 days after birth. She was held for 4 and a half weeks before release. We paid c260,000.00 ($27.95) for the outstanding bill.
Baby Rukaya Ahmed
2 weeks old at time of discharge (April 7th) and was on admission for 4 days. She had been discharged 9 days before and had an outstanding bill of c499,000.00 ($53.65) left to be paid. Her parents had paid c340,000.00 ($36.55) Her mother is a petty trader, and father a tailor.
Baby Salamatu Issaka
Just over 2 weeks old at time if discharge (April 5th). She was on admission for 5 days and had been discharged 11 days before. We paid the outstanding bill of c208,800.00 ($22.45). Her parents had paid c450,00.00 ($48.38) Her mother is unemployed, and her father a trader.
Baby Elizabeth Arko
1 month old. Was on admission for 9 days after birth and had been discharged and held for 20 days. We paid the outstanding bill of c323,100.00 ($34.74). Her parents had managed to pay c680,000.00 ($73.11) over the previous 3 weeks. Her mother is unemployed, and her father a barber.