The Ministry of Health has dismissed allegations circulating in a viral video claiming that mothers of new-borns are forced to sleep on bare tiles in the corridors of the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at the Bo Government Hospital.

In a statement issued on Friday, November 29, 2024, the ministry described the claims as “erroneous” and “misleading,” asserting that the video portrays out-dated conditions that no longer reflect the current reality at the hospital.

According to the ministry, the footage shows a situation that existed in the past when space constraints within the SCBU left mothers of admitted new-borns waiting in uncomfortable conditions. It confirmed that the SCBU’s limited space is still a challenge, preventing mothers from staying directly alongside their babies during treatment. However, the hospital has since made significant strides to address the issue, with ongoing construction of dedicated waiting areas for mothers, supported by the Rotary Club and the Ministry of Health.

“Mothers no longer sleep on the floor outside the SCBU,” the statement emphasized, adding that while construction of the new shelter is yet to be completed, mothers now wait under partially finished structures near the SCBU. The ministry reiterated its commitment to improving conditions at the facility and criticized the dissemination of out-dated footage as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

The Ministry of Health urged the public to verify information before accepting it as fact and reassured citizens that efforts are on-going to provide a dignified environment for mothers and their new-borns.