Regional Health Director says District Assemblies must invest more in Health of Women and Children

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga The Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. John Koku Awoonor-Williams has challenged the Regional Coordinating Council, Municipal and District Assemblies in the region to invest more in health if the issues of women and children are to be addressed. “Enough of the political talks and posturing while women and children continues to die”, he lamented. Dr. Koku Awoonor-Williams made the call at a conference in Bolgatanga to address maternal mortality issues in the region. He said ever since former first lady, Dr. Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills launched Campaign for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa’, in Bolgatanga in November last year, not much has happened as practical and demonstrable commitments from the Municipal and District Assemblies. “Pregnant women and children continue to die in our various communities and villages and health facilities. Health facilities and CHPS Compounds are in deplorable state that needs the attention of local District Executives”, he said adding that staff working in remote and deprived communities need motivation from district assemblies that are not forthcoming. According to him, there are very little investments in health infrastructure by the Regional Coordinating Council and Municipal and District Assemblies, emphasising that the health workforce in the region is precarious and yet indigenous students needing financial support to undertake medical training are hardly supported. “I think we can do better and must do better. Let’s walk the talk”, he stressed. He said between January and June this year health institutions in the region recorded 17 maternal deaths as against 23 maternal deaths recorded within the same period last year. Dr. Awoonor-Williams noted that even though the region have over the years performed well in safe motherhood especially infant and maternal health leading the rest of the nation much still needs to be done since one maternal death is an epidemic. He said with Ghana as one of the signatories Millennium Declarations and with the change in its status to a middle income country,, accelerating the reduction of maternal and child deaths through proven cost effective interventions such as family planning, has become even more urgent. While appreciating the need for regional, district and community level ownership of health and development and particularly maternal health, Dr. Awoonor-Williams expressed the hope that all stakeholders in the health sector will take on the multifaceted issues of maternal mortality and address them to eventually curb maternal deaths in the region to the barest minimum. The Regional Director of Health lamented that Millennium Development Goal 4 and 5 which prioritize skilled attendance at delivery remains a difficult challenge for Ghana, as said as 2015 draws near, he reiterated the urgency for all, including health workers, civil society, community leaders and development partners to assist the directorate to re-focus and re-double their commitment and accountability in continually directing resources at the many proven cost-effective community based health interventions to reduce the unfortunate deaths of mothers and their children to complete the joy that childbearing bring to families and society. Dr. Peter Baffoe, Senior Specialist- Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in a presentation said postpartum hemorrhage has been identified as the most common direct cause of maternal death in the region. Out of the 17 maternal deaths recorded half way through the year, post partum haemorrhage (the loss of greater than 500 ml of blood following vaginal delivery, or 1000 ml of blood following cesarean section) accounted for eight of the deatsh. Other direct causes were hypertension, ecclampsia, cardiac failure, amniotic fluid embolism and unsafe abortions. On the way forward, Dr. Baffoe amongst others stressed the urgent need for regional blood mobilisation strategy and appealed to residents of the region to voluntarily donate blood to help stock the blood bank. He also emphasised the need for the implementation of audit recommendations, improvement in the transport system in the region in collaboration with members of the G.P.R.T.U and taxi drivers, as well as improved customer and staff attitude on the part health workers to help address some of the challenges. -End- Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh