The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), Pharm. Dr. Samuel Kow Donkoh has led a highly powered delegation to pay a visit to Dr. Rachel Ekeme Otchere at her residence in Accra. It was such a solemn moment when the president and him team on Monday 5th June 2023 visited Rachel, who was injected intramuscularly with atracurium  instead of Anti-D, in a classic case of medication error.

The PSGH delegation also included the Executive Secretary, Rev. Dr. Dennis Sena Awitty, LAPAG Chairperson, Pharm. Lucia Addae, LAPAG vice chairperson, Pharm. Dr. Cynthia Ofori-Atta, GHOSPA chairperson, Pharm. Nathan Coompson and the Greater Accra regional Chairperson of the PSGH, Pharm. Stephen Bonnah.

The delegation assured the victim’s family of the Society’s support to Rachel throughout her treatment and beyond. A cash donation was made to support her treatment and the visit was climaxed with a prayer session to invoke divine intervention.

Background

Rachel safely delivered her 2nd child via caesarean on 26th January 2023 and had a 72-hour window to receive an Anti D vaccine. Unfortunately, Atracurium was administered instead via intramuscular injection, causing her body to shut down and her heart to stop beating, depriving her of oxygen for hours.

Since then, Rachel spent weeks on a ventilator in the ICU, with a tracheostomy, battled severe infections and fought to stay alive. Upon discharge from the hospital on 5th May 2023, she has been scheduled for urgent rehabilitative care to help her regain brain function and motility.

She has been diagnosed with Hypoxic Ishcaemic brain injury post cardiac arrest sec to medication error (atracurium), acute pulmonary thromboembolism, ECHO suggestive of PE, aspiration Pneumonia and Infected gluteal ulcer.

Appeal for financial support

In response to this unfortunate event, the Lady Pharmacists Association of Ghana (LAPAG) with support of Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHOSPA) is calling on all pharmacists and the general public to donate to support the victim’s treatment. This is an appeal for financial support to help Rachel to get her life back again.

Together we can make a difference in Pharm Dr. Rachel’s life by contributing any amount to help facilitate this initiative. Donations can be sent to any of the following channels.

  1. MTN MOMO – Helena Owusu-Ansah – 0241124336
  2. AirtelTigo Cash – Barbara Adu-Brimpong – 0262435410
  3. Vodafone Cash -Marfoaah Tettey-Amlalo – 0205618585
  4. Ecobank Account (1441002660516, Lady Pharmacists Association of Ghana, Branch-Ridge Headquarters)

Kindly send your name and reference after the donation