8 WOMEN DIE DAILY — GHANA’S MATERNAL CRISIS IS STILL RAGING!
According to the Ghana Health Service’s 2024 report, maternal mortality rates continue to be high, increasing marginally from 100.22 to 101.68 per 100,000 live births. In addition, the percentage of skilled deliveries has declined from 60.62% to 55.26%, a development that Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, described as “worrying.” The number of neonatal fatalities remained relatively unchanged; however, the quality of prenatal care increased, with a greater number of women completing their fourth and eighth appointments. Experts emphasized that there are issues that need immediate attention, including as the lack of access to basic healthcare, low-quality treatment, insufficient data, and a shortage of community health workers, during the fifth Maternal, Child Health, and Nutrition Conference in Accra. There was a call to action for the improvement of midwifery, emergency care, neonatal resuscitation, outreach, and digital health services. Additionally, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund pointed out that, on a worldwide scale and in Ghana specifically, the number of maternal fatalities continues to be high, with eight women dying every day as a result of problems during delivery. This underscores the need for immediate action in order to enhance the health of mothers and their children.
