A newborn has tragically passed away at Tema General Hospital, reportedly due to the inconsistent power supply situation at the facility, as reported by GHOne TV based in Accra.

According to GHOne TV's social media post on March 27, 2024, "Erratic power cut on Tuesday evening plunged the neonatal unit of Tema General Hospital into chaos, resulting in the heartbreaking loss of a newborn," the channel posted on social media on March 27, 2024.

"The neonatal unit, where infants requiring intensive care are housed, relies heavily on electricity to sustain life-saving equipment such as oxygen support and emergency care devices. The generator intended to provide backup power for the unit is prone to shutting down when overloaded," their post added.

The neonatal unit, dedicated to caring for infants requiring intensive care, heavily relies on electricity to operate life-saving equipment such as oxygen support and emergency care devices.

Unfortunately, the backup generator meant to provide power during outages is prone to shutting down when overloaded, exacerbating the situation.

This incident occurred shortly after a video of the blackout went viral on social media platforms, sparking public outrage amidst ongoing power blackouts across the country.

In the circulating video, the neonatal ward is shown in darkness due to the power outage. A voice, presumably that of a hospital staff member, provides context to the dire situation, stating, "There is a blackout here at the Tema General Hospital. This baby is on CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), and all of it has gone off."

The staff member further highlights the gravity of the situation, expressing concern for up to 10 babies in critical condition due to the lack of power. This footage underscores the harsh reality of the impact of the power crisis on healthcare facilities.

In another video captured at the hospital, mothers are seen fanning their babies with cloth to alleviate the heat in the wards following the electricity outage.

Despite public demands for a load-shedding schedule to help citizens cope with the crisis, both the Ministry of Energy and the Electricity Company of Ghana have remained steadfast in their refusal, insisting that the situation does not warrant a timetable.

In a recent interview, Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, responded to calls for a timetable by suggesting that those advocating for one should create their own if they believe there is a power outage schedule.

His remarks have drawn criticism from some quarters, who view them as insensitive to the challenges faced by Ghanaians.

Erratic power cut on Tuesday evening plunged the neonatal unit of Tema General Hospital into chaos, resulting in the heartbreaking loss of a newborn.The neonatal unit, where infants requiring intensive care are housed, relies heavily on electricity to sustain life-saving… pic.twitter.com/EwyCoW3NKa— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) March 27, 2024