Maternal Deaths Declined in 2011

Kirsty Telfer (Projects Abroad)

by Kirsty Telfer (Projects Abroad) Central Region’s maternal deaths declined in 2011, Seventy- four maternal deaths were recorded as compared to Seventy-seven in 2010.

Maternal Mortality rates in Ghana continue to be a challenge for the Ghana Health Service and pose a real threat to social development in the country. Speaking at the 2011Central Region Health Services Performance Review Conference, the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Samuel T. Kwashie said that ‘every maternal death from a preventable cause is unacceptable and must not be allowed to happen.’

The United Nationals Development Programme (UNDP) has raised concern about high rates of maternal mortality across the developing world, saying it is still unacceptably high. Progress is still well short of the 5.5 per cent annual decline needed to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of reducing by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio by 2015.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines maternal mortality as the death of a woman while pregnant or within forty-two days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.

WHO estimates that around 500 women per 100,000 live births in Ghana die during delivery. In the Central Region, 74 maternal deaths were recorded in the year 2011, giving a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 116 deaths per 100,000 live births. Although this is a slight decrease from 2010, where the MMR was 165/100,000, one is a real threat to Ghana’s chance of achieving the MDG relating to maternal health and promoting high quality health care in the country.

The Central Region Health Service has associated itself with the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMNA), which was launched in the region in November 2011 by Dr Ernestina Naadu Mills’. It calls on all 17 Metropolitan Municipal and District Assembly’s (MMDAs) to ensure they are committed to eliminating maternal mortality in the Central Region.

Dr Kwashie said he hoped the increase in supervised births would further ensure a decrease in maternal mortality. The number has significantly increased over the past three years and stands at 63.7 percent as of 2011. He also noted that additional health professionals are being posted to the region and this should help improve the health situation surrounding maternal mortality.

UNDP says most maternal deaths can, and should be avoided. Hemorrhage, sepsis, unsafe abortion, obstructed labour and hypertensive diseases of pregnancy cause more than 80 per cent of maternal deaths. Most of these deaths are preventable when there is access to adequate reproductive health services, equipment, supplies and skilled healthcare workers. UNDP notes that the majority of women in the developing world are now receiving antenatal care and skilled assistance during delivery.

The theme for the year under review was ‘Strengthening Human Resource for Health towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.’ Concerns relating to staffing have been considerably diminished following the postings of a number of Doctors, Medical Assistants, Nurses, Midwifes etc. and numerous training programmes have been of immense benefit to the strengthening of the health care system.

Dr Kwashie pointed out that one only case of Measles was reported in 2011 and the number of Cholera patients was almost half of those recorded in 2010. The biggest threat to the health service continues to be malaria and was the highest reported medical condition at the Out- patient Departments throughout the region. However, positive steps have been taken to control the disease, which is a major threat to pregnant women and children under the age of five. At the end of 2011, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United States of America Aid (USAID) and the Department for International Development (DFID) distributed 1,003, 100 Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (LLITNs) to the people of the Central region.

Dr Kwashie said the aim for 2012 should be focused on strengthening the health care systems to provide quality and accessible health care for the entire population of the Central Region, paying special attention to those living in the most deprived situations. He said health care programmes would be made available for those suffering from disabilities.