East Mamprusi targets zero maternal mortality rate

The East Mamprusi Health Service, has taken strategic measures to achieve zero maternal mortality rate in the area.

The district reduced maternal mortalities from a high record of 265 mortalities per 100,000 lives birth in 2010, to only four deaths in 2012.

The area has also increased antenatal coverage above an average of 90 per cent, 76.4 per cent facility delivery and reduced maternal mortalities per 100,000 live births from 265 in 2010 to 127 in 2011 and 73 in 2012.

Madam Paulina Bayiwasi, Acting District Director made this known at a durbar at Nagbo on Tuesday.

The durbar which was used to sensitise the community about maternal mortality was organised by SEND Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, as part of a collaboration with Ghana Health Service (GHS) with financial support from STAR-Ghana, a multi-donor pooled organisation to reduce maternal mortality.

Madam Bayiwasi mentioned some interventions such as health education, distribution of free insecticide treated nets to pregnant women and children under five, expansion of outreach maternal and child health programmes and an introduction of child health project as some of the interventions aimed at achieving zero maternal mortality.

She observed that the despite progress being made, much more needs to be done by stakeholders in order to achieve the set target.

Mr John Nkaw, Programme Officer of SEND-Ghana expressed worry that the country is recording astronomical rate of maternal mortalities pegged at 450 per 100,000 live births.

He said his organisation would mobilise 100 community members and 30 citizen monitoring teams to ensure accountability of health service expenditure.

The Nagbo Chief Iddi Drahamani Mahami appealed to the GHS to improve health care in the community by upgrading the health post, increase the number of health personnel for the facility and provide the midwife accommodation.

Source: GNA