SEND-Ghana says much is desired of policy makers in the area of improving maternal health delivery as a national priority.
The organization maintains that Ghana is still far behind in terms of combating maternal mortality rate recorded especially in the three regions of the north.
Though the organization’s has made some modest achievements through its three years Improving Maternal Health Service Delivery through Participatory Governance project dubbed “IMPROVE,” it is expected that government and its development partners will speed up interventions aimed at eradicating the menace.
This was brought to the fore at the IMPROVE project’s close-out conference and awards event held in Tamale on the theme, “Contributing to the reduction of maternal mortality in Ghana”
Dr. Beatrice Heymann, Principal Medical Officer of the Ghana Health Service admitted that the magnitude of maternal mortality remained awful.
“Our district health data base recorded 941 maternal deaths in 2014, 926 in 2015 and 994 in 2016,” she disclosed.
She raised concern about most pregnant women apathy towards visiting health facilities for safe delivery and antenatal.
Dr. Beatrice Heymann commended SEND-Ghana and its allies for working tirelessly to overturn the situation.
She said the IMPROVE project created platforms for community members to engage duty bearers on their health needs.
SEND-Ghana’s Director of Policy Advocacy Programmes, Clara Osei Boateng in a presentation on the overview of the project said 150 community champions were trained to carry out maternal health education in the 30 districts.
According to her, the community champions succeeded in sensitizing 68,200 concerned citizens on maternal health issues.
Clara Boateng revealed that 30 Journalists in the three regions of the north were also trained on sensitive maternal health reporting.
She reiterated SEND-Ghana and its collaborators commitment to continue to apply consistent and participatory approach to solve the problem.
She called for deeper collaboration, transparency and accountability among civil society organizations working in the area of combating maternal and infant mortality.
Ernest Okyere, Acting Country Manager of Christian Aid called for attitudinal change to tackle the menace.
He appreciated the contribution of all stakeholders toward ensuring zero deaths during child birth.
The IMPROVE project was implemented in 30 districts across the three regions of north where malnutrition and poor maternal health are widespread.
SEND-Ghana in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) implemented the project funded by the European Union and Christian Aid.
The project’s overall objective was to influence and ensure effective delivery of maternal health services in Ghana and progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal 5.
Approximately 254,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries have been reached with sensitizations on maternal health issues, health financing, civic responsibility and taxation.
Some deserving health institutions and individuals were awarded for their contribution to the project’s success at dinner night.
By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana