The first time I heard of the name “Major" at the maternity block of the regional hospital, Sunyani, I wondered if I was at the 3 BN barracks! I have the singular honor to introduce to you Madam Margaret Afosa- Kodom, a principal midwifery officer with the Ghana Health service, who practices her clinical duties at the regional hospital, sunyani. She also double as the supervisor (managerial and leadership duty), which she does with much zeal, for the obstetric & gynaecological unit - comprising of the maternity block, labour ward, lying - in and the O&G ward. Working as a midwife have often being compared to a roller coaster ride. It can be exciting, rewarding, demanding and draining all at once. A midwife experiences several higher and lower moods in one day as she attends to successful pregnancies and deliveries. No matter how the midwife feels socially, emotionally, psychologically, she must remain professional and stay as objective as possible. If all of these sounds challenging, it is because it is. To most people, a midwife is someone who help in the delivery of babies. However, this is just one of the numerous task a midwife performs. A midwife's responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Monitoring their clients health from the time pregnancy is confirmed, through the entire pregnancy, labour and short time immediately after birth.
- Diagnosing pregnancy related medical conditions such as eclempsia and pre - eclempsia.
- Identifying potential and existing complications and suggesting corrective measures.
- Monitoring women and their babies during and after their birth.
- Providing emergency care when necessary
- Offering women practical and emotional support for coping with the many challenges that occur during and after birth.
“Major" started as a ward assistant between September and October 1973 to February, 1976. She was trained at Holy Family Nursing and midwifery Training College in 1976, after which she worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Nkoranza (in the Brong Ahafo region) of Ghana for 28 good years of meritorious device to mother Ghana. She decided to change her environment, from the Christian Health Association (CHAG) to the Ghana Health service ( GHS), her visit posting was at the regional health directorate, Sunyani. She was posted to the regional hospital in 2003 and has worked there for 14 years now. In all, she has being in service for 44 years, has contributed immensely to the developmental agenda of Ghana in the aspect of health. Just by the close of the year 2018, she will be going on retirement from active public service. I have known her for the past five (5) years and have really admired her work from afar before getting near her as a mother. She has had the privilege and the opportunity to work with specialists like Dr.J.B Fordjour, from whom she had learnt a lot of her midwifery skills. Her passion and enthusiasm for her work, coupled with her leadership acumen, respect and love for her clients, her fear for God and commitment to duty is worth mentioning. After extensive interview with Dr.Fordjour this morning, I spotted “Major" as my next hero to be honoured. She is active and smart like a sixteen years old girl. She did not join the health service for the sake of money or job security, but she had a great passion, compassion and love for the office of a midwife, and true to her assertion, she has lived to the tenets of the profession. Am just wondering, how we can get people like “major “after she retires come next year? The time has come for us to appreciate the love, the service, the care, the patience; the principles centred health workers in the country. When we remember our heroes, we rekindle our own idealism and values; we renew our determination and our quest to encourage the younger generation to live to such models. Major is a legendary figure in the midwifery and the nursing fraternity, and to all the countless women and children who have tasted her handiwork. She has being earmarked as a hero who deserves to be honoured, share with me your thoughts, your comments, your experience with "Major" as we prepare to ignite a passion for good deeds in our society by recognizing the worthwhile contributions of people in various facets of life. You do not want to miss the programme “HONOURING OUR HEROES 2018".
Just stay tune and touch
You can inbox me of the hero in your community or in Ghana, who ought to join this list as we prepare to profile them in detail in the upcoming magazine prior to the programme.
The untold stories voice
Jefferson Agbotro Kwasi
Health & Change Advocate
+233 249727900