The Kumasi South Hospital at Kyirapatre will be turned into a Centre of Excellence for Maternal and Child Health Care, Dr Frank Abebrese, the Medical Superintendent has announced.
He said the hospital was being supported with funds from the government and the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) to complete a maternity complex started nine years ago.
Dr Abebrese was speaking at the inauguration of the hospital as a "Baby Friendly Facility" in Kumasi.
The Medical Superintendent said complicated deliveries, which hitherto used to be referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), were now being handled at the Kyirapatre hospital.
The hospital supervised 1,300 deliveries in 2003 and has projected to deliver more than 1,500 babies in 2004.
Dr Abebrese said adequate knowledge; right attitudes and relevant practices had been put in place to ensure exclusive breast-feeding for all babies.
Mrs Theresa Acheampong, Deputy Director of Nursing Services in Kumasi, said exclusive breast-feeding was an innovative and evidenced-based intervention that promotes health of babies and asked lactating mothers to adopt it.
Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, praised the medical staff of the hospital for their hard work, sense to duty and dedication and advised them to always focus on quality service delivery.