Anita Adu Mensah spent several days working with the Neonatal Unit teams at Lincoln County Hospital and Pilgrim Hospital in Boston.
Anita has a degree in neonatal nursing and is passionate about the care she is able to provide to families in the maternity unit at The King’s Village Hospital in rural north Ghana. The hospital is part-supported by the Ghanaian government and by The King’s Village which is a UK charity. At the moment the unit doesn’t have many facilities to provide specialist care for babies who are born prematurely or need extra help.
The visit was arranged as the service provided on the unit at Pilgrim hospital mirrors the service the Ghanaian government would like to be provided in Ghana.
Hospital Chaplain Reverend Alison Gibbs helped to arrange the visit. She said: “It was really exciting to be able to meet Anita and play a small part in helping her to create a special care unit that serves 150,000 people. They do not have access to any other healthcare than what is provided at the hospital. I honestly believe we have gained as much from meeting Anita and as she has learned from us.”
Neonatal Unit Sister Helen Fletcher welcomed Anita to Lincoln County Hospital at the end of May. She said: “It was an amazing experience to be able to welcome Anita to our department.
“She fitted right in and we learned a lot from her about her experiences, as well as being able to share our knowledge about how we care for our smallest patients and their families. Anita was only with us for a few days, but she made friends within our team and it was a real privilege to work alongside her. She has left a lasting impression and we wish her well. We cannot wait to hear about what she achieves and the care that will be provided to families and babies in Ghana.”
One of the special babies Anita got to meet during her visit was Arabella Millhouse. Arabella’s mum, Louise, was being monitored at Lincoln County Hospital when she went into labour when she was just 24 weeks pregnant. The decision was made to transfer her to the Jessop Wing at Sheffield Teaching Hospital as they have specialist intensive care for babies who are born as early as Arabella.
Arabella was born on Thursday 12 March, three days after her mum’s birthday, weighing just 685g. This is the same weight as a refill bag of Quality Streets. Once Arabella was well enough the family were repatriated back to Lincoln County Hospital. With the support of the amazing neonatal teams and neonatal nurses like Anita, Arabella is doing really well and getting stronger and bigger each day.
Anita said: “I cannot thank everyone enough for the warm welcome I received. I learned so much. Everyone was so willing to share information and answer all of my questions. I have taken away so many ideas, not just about equipment, but also about the difference smaller initiatives and actions can make to families and their babies.
“I was overwhelmed by how friendly and welcoming everyone was. I have made so many new friends and I promise to keep in touch and let everyone know the differences they have helped to make for my patients in Ghana.”