No Woman Should Die Giving Life" – Govt Launches New Plan To Cut Maternal Deaths
No Woman Should Die Giving Life" – Govt Launches New Plan To Cut Maternal Deaths
Story by Fada Amakye
The government has launched a renewed effort to reduce maternal deaths in Ghana, with President John Dramani Mahama leading the charge to ensure every mother survives pregnancy and childbirth.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Minister for Health during a working tour of the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions as part of the Maternal Mortality Action and Response Plan (MMARP).
“President Mahama, as a father and leader of our nation, has been unequivocal: no woman should lose her life while giving life,”_ she said. “For us at the Ministry of Health, we see it as a moral imperative and a shared national responsibility.”_
Ghana has made progress. Maternal deaths dropped from 943 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 234 per 100,000 in 2023, according to WHO. But the figure is still far above the global target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 by 2030.
The Deputy Minister said attending antenatal care alone is not enough.
“A woman may attend more than eight antenatal visits yet still face fatal complications if emergency care is delayed or referral systems fail,”_ she noted.
As part of MMARP, she met health managers, doctors, nurses and development partners to strengthen emergency obstetric care and fix gaps in hospitals. She also engaged Ga Mantse King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II and Asantehene Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II who pledged to champion maternal health awareness in their communities.
She called on all Ghanaians to help: “Support pregnant women in your family. Encourage them to attend antenatal clinics, deliver in health facilities and seek care early. Our men must become active partners. Chiefs, churches and civil society must all play a role.”
“Most maternal deaths are preventable. With timely care and community support, more mothers can survive,”_ she added.
The Ministry said its vision is clear: _“Every pregnancy should be safe. Every delivery should be protected and every mother should return home with her newborn.”
