The latest statistics released by
the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has indicated that the Northern Region
continuous to record higher maternal mortality rates, a development that
perhaps is confirming that the entire nation is still far away from achieving the
Millennium Development Goals four and five by 2015.
Adopted by world leaders in the year
2000 and set to be achieved by 2015, the MDGs 4 and 5 actually aims at reducing
by two-thirds the ratio of under-five mortality rate and reducing by
three-quarters the maternal mortality ratio by 2015.
Speaking in an interview after a
workshop with the media to discuss maternal health issue in the region and the
way forward, the northern regional Director of Health, Dr.
Akwasi Twumasi revealed
that that between January and July, this
year, the northern region recorded 51 deaths. In 2012, 119 deaths were record
and 131 deaths in 2011, this he said the figures are alarming.
Maternal mortality rates in the
northern region over the years have been at the increasing rate which
stakeholders have called for measures
to address it.
The
Northern Regional Director of Health indicated that the nagging problems that
results to high figures of maternal deaths are distances and accessibility of
some communities, delays in referrals, late arrivals to hospitals, ignorance of
relatives, delays in facilities among others.
According
to him, series of measures had been put in
place to avert maternal and infant mortality rates in the region, citing for
instance community durbars, training of
Traditional Birth Attendance (TBAs) and encouraging men to always accompany
their women to the hospital for antenatal care are given positive response in
the combat to reduce maternal mortality in the region.
He
admitted that with the pursuit to achieve the MDG 4and 5 is a bit tough due to
the large nature of the region which sometimes results to late referrals
complicating issues they get to the rightful destination for help.
He called
for a collaborative of the media and community leaders to join hands with the
GHS to be able to achieve the MDGs in the region.
The
Northern Regional Health Director commended Savanna Signatures for their
unflinching support in the area of maternal health in the region.
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