Ashaiman hospital treats woman with fistula after The Fourth Estate report

A 34-year-old mother of four, who suffered from uncontrollable urine leakage for two years after a botched caesarean section, has finally received treatment.

The Ashaiman Polyclinic (now Ashaiman Hospital) operated on Ruth to fix her vesicovaginal fistula after The Fourth Estate report, which narrated her psychological trauma and shame.

According to the report, despite several visits to Ashaiman Hospital and a referral to Ridge Hospital in Accra, little was done to assist her financially to undergo treatment.

Fortunately for Ruth, the report prompted a swift intervention by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) which collaborated with the National Fistula Committee, leading to her treatment and recovery from the vesicovaginal fistula she developed after childbirth at the Hospital, formerly Ashaiman Polyclinic.

The successful corrective surgery brings to an end, a harrowing chapter of Ruth’s life that was cloaked in shame, pain, and helplessness. “I am free now,” Ruth told The Fourth Estate. “The urine doesn’t flow on me again. I’m happy and very grateful to The Fourth Estate. Your story gave me my life back.”

Ruth before (left) and after (right) treatment

Following The Fourth Estate’s report, which detailed Ruth’s medical ordeal, emotional trauma, and financial struggles, the GHS swiftly summoned the management of the Ashaiman Hospital for an emergency meeting.

The meeting, chaired by the Head of Legal for GHS in the Greater Accra Region, Fidel Leviel, focused on the facility’s duty of care and the urgent need for medical redress.
 “I read your story about Ruth Sottie. I called an emergency management meeting at Ashaiman Municipal Hospital. We discussed the issue, and I gave them the right legal advice,” he told The Fourth Estate.

Following his legal advice, the facility formed a 14-member committee led by the Head of the Hospital to find a decisive resolution to Ruth’s ordeal.
After assessing her condition on April 21, the Ashaiman Hospital admitted Ruth, during which specialists worked to rectify her fistula condition on April 28 and monitored her recovery. She was discharged on June 9, 2025.

Prior to the intervention, Ruth lived in constant embarrassment. The uncontrollable leakage of urine and her inability to freely pass stool disrupted her ability to work. It also robbed her of her dignity. Her attempts to seek help from the facility were met with referrals and silence.

The story published  by The Fourth Estate in April this year, documented not only Ruth’s suffering but also systemic lapses in maternal care, poor post-operative monitoring, and the lack of accountability in public healthcare.
The story caught the attention of online commentators, public health advocates, and the Ghana Health Service, prompting internal reviews and direct action.

Ruth’s husband, Lawson Okutu, who had earlier sold his motorbike to fund her initial medical bills, expressed profound gratitude. “We had lost all hope. Nobody listened to us until The Fourth Estate told our story. Today, I have my wife back,” he said.

Ruth said she will resume selling beef at the Ashaiman Market, and for the first time since the birth of their last child in 2023, she can work with pride, sit in church, and interact in public without fear of humiliation.

No permissible margin of error

Mr Leviel from the GHS said Ruth’s case has underscored the importance of enhancing internal accountability and improving maternal health protocols.

“The world through the media is watching our actions and inactions as healthcare professionals. I am cautioning healthcare professionals to be diligent with their work,” he said. “ There’s no permissible margin for error in our jurisdiction for healthcare professionals.”

“If health professionals have knowledge about the concept of duty of care and its resultant breaches as well as damages accruing, they would be more mindful. So adequate knowledge of medical negligence and its consequences will do the trick.”

Speak up when dissatisfied 

The management of the Ashaiman Municipal Hospital expressed appreciation to The Fourth Estate for highlighting her plight, which they say facilitated timely intervention.

“We are grateful to The Fourth Estate for bringing this to our attention,” said Dr. Mavis Amoako, Medical Superintendent of the facility. “It wasn’t a very complicated procedure. We ensured we engaged experts in the field, and thankfully, the process went smoothly. She [Ruth] has recovered.”

Dr. Amoako attributed part of the delay in addressing Ruth’s condition to a language barrier and communication breakdown, which, in her view, may have contributed to a lack of clarity in relaying the patient’s concerns.

However, Ruth has disputed that claim, insisting that she was neglected and left without proper follow-up care until The Fourth Estate’s story brought public attention to her case.

Dr. Amoako acknowledged the need for improvement and said the hospital is working to implement key recommendations in conjunction with existing protocols to strengthen post-surgical monitoring, antenatal risk communication, and patient feedback systems.

She urged patients to feel empowered to escalate concerns when frontline staff fail to provide adequate care.

“If you believe the person you’re speaking to isn’t addressing your concerns properly, take the issue to the next level—management,” she advised. “It is management’s duty to guide you to where you can access the care you need, including free services where applicable. Remember that at the Ghana Health Service, your health is our priority.”