UER Maternal death cases fluctuate
The Upper East Regional Directorate of Health Services has over three years recorded fluctuating numbers in maternal mortality with 37 maternal deaths recorded in 2016.
In 2015, maternal deaths recorded by the Health Directorate were 47 while 30 deaths were recorded in 2014.
Dr Kofi Issah, the Regional Health Director, who said this at an annual performance review of the Directorate in Bolgatanga, explained that the scenario indicated fluctuation levels of 110.9/100,000 live births since 2010.
Speaking later in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Dr Issah said socio economic influences that emerge during pregnancy and systemic failure especially when the health facility does not act fast when the woman in labour reports at the facility, could be some of the cause of some maternal deaths.
He said many measures were being put in place to ensure that, “no mother dies during pregnancy and child birth,” he added.
As part of plans by the Directorate to have effective structures for effective management at the sub districts, to address the challenge, he said orientation, capacity building and mentorship programmes had been outlined for health staff and community support teams to contribute to the system.
Dr Issah also lamented on the number of doctors in the Region and was worried about doctors who refused to accept postings to serve in the Region.
According to him, the Region had 25 doctors, including three obstetrician gynecologists and two surgeons who would be returning to school this year.
Mrs Rufinna Assurow, Principal Nursing Officer in charge of Reproductive health, in response to how Trained Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) supported the local health structures, said their duties only stopped at referring maternal cases to the hospitals and health compounds as they were not counted to assist in deliveries.
Meanwhile, the 25 bed capacity Maternity Ward of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, most of the time had sufficient bed space for mothers being attended to at the various delivery rooms.
Madam Amina Issahaku, the Midwife on duty at the time of visit by the GNA, said averages of eight deliveries were made in a day and it was rare that mothers had to use mattresses on the floor.
She said Malaria and high blood pressure were the two main health problems some of the mothers suffered.
Source: GNA